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Did you know that according to SafeCar.Gov almost 11,000 car accidents annually are caused by tire failure and some of these accidents are fatal???

Please keep reading to learn how to keep your tires properly inflated and stay safer on the road!

Tire pressure is one of those things that unless you have an interest in cars, may be just another unknown annoying car-thing.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Before you embark on a trip down the google rabbit hole, drop by and see the experts at Rolling Stock SF! We’re located at 601 Bayshore Boulevard in San Francisco. Make plans for a free tire pressure check.

We have wheel and tire experts here to help explain why checking your tire’s air pressure is as important as filling your gas tank!

We’ll also show you exactly where to get the info you need, and how to check it yourself!

Here are four things you need to know about your tire’s air pressure:

1. Why are under inflated and over inflated tires bad?

Both under inflated and over inflated tires are very dangerous to drive on, and they can permanently damage parts of your car.

Under inflated tires lead to more of the surface of your tire touching the road, which means more wear and tear on your tires. This results in more trips per year to the mechanic and tire shop, but it also means that the tire’s tread can begin to separate or split; and possibly blowout!

Over inflated tires are just as dangerous. Over inflated tires tend to get bouncy, especially dangerous on turns. Over inflated tires have less contact with the road, which can lead to your tires leaving the pavement, poor handling and loss of vehicle control. Over inflated tires need more distance to come to a complete stop. Therefore, in the event of an unexpected slow-down, your car will need more distance to brake and stop. Over inflation of your tires can also lead to uneven wear on tires, which lands you in the mechanic shop more often than necessary.

Obviously, over-inflated tires can also lead to serious car accidents, which is the most dangerous aspect. Over-inflation puts you at risk of a tire explosion or a blowout.

Too-high tire pressure in your tires makes the air expand due to the heat from it spinning and friction while you drive 70 mph down the highway. The rubber in your tires will have breaking point, which will give no warning, regardless of how fast or slow you are driving.

2. How & Where to find your car’s recommended tire pressure:

Inside of every driver door frame there is a panel with loads of information.

We’ve all seen it several times and most of us have completely disregarded it.

Among the information on this panel you will find your tire’s required air pressure. It’s usually labeled as a number followed by PSI or Pounds per Square Inch.

Your front tires and your back tires will more than likely have a different recommended psi setting.

Next time you get into your vehicle, take just 30 seconds to read the information on this panel, it’s really easy to find, read and understand.

3. How to check your tire pressure:

Now that you know what the required air pressure is for your vehicle, let’s talk about how you can check what the current pressure is in your tires.

The best way to measure the current air pressure in your vehicle’s tires is by using a tire pressure gauge. You can buy a tire pressure gauge online or at any local auto parts store.

The quickest and easiest way to determine your pressure may be at your nearest gas station. But please note! Gas station gauges are frequently inaccurate.

If you’re in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by and have the techs at Rolling Stock determine your tires’ air pressure.

If you do check your air pressure yourself, try to check it when your tires are cold.

• Here’s what to do if you are using a gas station air hose:

• Remove the cap from your tire’s valve stem and applying the hose without pressing the handle that initiates the air pump.

• You will see that the gauge’s meter begins to rise displaying a number on the side.

• This number is the PSI or Pounds per Square Inch of air pressure that your tire currently has. Does this number match the info on your driver door panel? If not, add or release air as needed.

• Remember - both under inflation and over inflation can lead do some pretty dangerous situations.

4. What is TPMS? What does it mean if it’s light comes on in your car?

TPMS or the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is a monitoring system in your car that is meant to alert you when your tire pressure is too low, making for unsafe driving conditions.

If this light has come on in your car, you can be sure that at least one of your tires has low air pressure and is unsafe to drive on.

This low air pressure can be caused by a slow leak due to a tire malfunction or even a small nail.

The best thing to do in this situation is to go to your local tire shop OR your local gas station air pump, check each tire’s air pressure with the gauge and bring each tire to its proper air pressure with the air pump.

If you’ve added air to your tires and your light does not go off, visit your local tire shop as soon as possible.

Car accidents are far too common, but a lot of accidents are preventable!

According to SafeCar.Gov almost 11,000 car accidents annually are caused by tire failure and some of these accidents are fatal.

If you have any issues with your tires and you’re lucky enough to live in San Francisco. You should make your way to Rolling Stock SF at 601 Bayshore Boulevard and have one of our tire and wheel specialists take a look at your tires to ensure that they’re safe to drive on.