TL;DR

• Maintaining correct tire pressure prevents excessive tire wear, tire blowouts, and poor handling, significantly improving vehicle safety and fuel economy. Always check your tires when they are cold for an accurate PSI reading.
• Use a quality pressure gauge to check your cold tires, aiming for the manufacturer's recommended PSI found on the driver's door placard. The TPMS light often signals a simple pressure drop due to colder temperatures.
• Davis Acura in Langhorne offers professional sales, comprehensive maintenance assistance, and a dedicated service center for all your Acura needs.

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Vehicle maintenance is crucial for ensuring safety and optimizing performance on the road. One of the simplest yet most important aspects of routine car care is maintaining the correct tire pressure. If your tires are not correctly inflated, they cannot effectively perform their primary job, which can lead to serious automotive issues. Learning how to check tire pressure and keep it properly maintained is vital for Acura owners, and professional assistance is available right in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, at Davis Acura.

Understanding Why Tire Pressure Matters

Tire pressure is often the most overlooked component of regular vehicle upkeep, yet improper inflation can have immediate and serious consequences.

When tires are underinflated, they will wear out faster. This quicker deterioration reduces the driver's control over the car, dramatically increases the risk of tire blowouts, and could potentially lead to crashes. Under-inflation also results in excessive tire wear and poor handling, as well as reduced fuel economy.

Conversely, overinflated tires are not beneficial either. Tires with too much pressure can also wear out prematurely. They reduce traction and poor braking ability. Additionally, over-inflation puts the tires at risk for a blowout and can create a harsher ride, where drivers feel every bump and dip in the road.

Maintaining correctly inflated tires promotes a safer ride and provides economic benefits. Keeping tires at the proper pressure can potentially save up to 3 percent in gas mileage, depending on the car and driving habits. Regularly checking tires and maintaining the correct pressure, especially as seasons change, helps keep your Acura driving as safely and efficiently as possible.

Finding the Correct Pressure Setting

Before learning how to check tire pressure, you must determine the precise amount of air required for your specific vehicle. This number is determined by the manufacturer and is measured in PSI or pounds per square inch.

For general guidance, tire pressure should usually be somewhere between 32 and 36 PSI. However, these are general figures, and the exact numbers can vary significantly from one Acura model to another.

You can find the manufacturer’s specific recommended pressure in a couple of locations. First, always check the owner’s manual for exact numbers. Second, the required PSI is also located on a placard found when you open the driver’s side door, typically affixed to the pillar between the doors.

Step-by-Step Guide How to Check Tire Pressure

Checking tire pressure is a quick and easy process that can be completed in just a few minutes using a pressure gauge. If you follow a simple procedure, you can ensure you get the most accurate reading.

1. Start with Cold Tires - It is crucial to check your tire inflation when the tires are "cold". Tires are considered cold when the car has been parked for at least three hours or if the car has been driven less than a mile at a moderate speed. This is because driving causes the tires to heat up, which in turn increases the tire pressure. If you check the pressure when the tires are hot, you will get an inaccurate reading that is higher than the actual cold pressure. It is best to check the pressure in the morning before any significant driving occurs.
2. Use a Quality Pressure Gauge - You should use a high-quality tire pressure gauge. It is advisable not to rely on the inexpensive gauges often found at gas stations. Instead, purchase a good quality digital or mechanical gauge.
3. Check the Pressure - Remove the valve cap from one of the tires. Place the pressure gauge firmly onto the valve stem. You must press down hard to get a reading. It is important to keep the gauge’s surface flush with the valve stem to prevent air loss and ensure an accurate reading. If you hear air escaping from the valve stem, you should adjust the gauge until the hissing stops. When the reading is complete, a small bar will push out from the bottom of a mechanical gauge, which indicates the current PSI. It is wise to repeat the tire pressure check two or three times on each tire to ensure you are not getting a false reading.
4. Adjust and Fill the Tire - If the reading is below the recommended PSI, you need to add air. You can use an air compressor, such as one available at most gas stations, to refill the tire. Use the nozzle on the air compressor hose, adding air in short bursts of a few seconds at a time until the tire pressure reaches the right level. Always be sure to fill your tires slowly to maintain the most accurate readings.
5. Recheck the Pressure - After inflating the tire, use the gauge again to confirm the new pressure. If you inadvertently filled the tire too much, gently push in the valve stem to release some air until the gauge shows the correct tire pressure.

Repeat this procedure on all the remaining tires as necessary, and then you are ready to drive safely.

When and Why the TPMS Light Illuminates

Modern Acura vehicles are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS. This system uses pressure sensors mounted in each wheel that transmit readings to a central electronic control unit. The system constantly evaluates whether the pressure in the tires falls within an acceptable range.

If the TPMS light is lit up on your dashboard, it signifies a possible low tire pressure condition. If a reading is significantly lower than the recommended level, the vehicle will alert the driver through the Multi-Information Display (MID) located on the instrument panel. The system is capable of indicating which specific tire has the issue and may also display the individual pressure for all four tires. The pressure display can typically be accessed anytime using the MID controls on the steering wheel.

It is common for the TPMS light to illuminate during seasonal changes, especially in colder climates. This occurs because, as the temperature outside decreases, the air pressure inside your tires also drops. The same principle applies in reverse during warmer climates, where increasing external temperatures can cause the pressure of your tires to increase.

If the light comes on, it is most likely a simple drop in pressure due to temperature changes. While the light may turn off once the tire warms up during normal driving conditions, if cold weather causes the TPMS light to stay illuminated, you must check the pressure when the tires are cold and inflate the tire to the proper pressure indicated on the door placard.

After checking all four tires and correcting the pressure, take a short drive to allow the vehicle's tire sensors to reset.

Regular Maintenance and Professional Support

Even though the TPMS is a useful tool, it is still highly recommended that you manually check your tires on a regular basis. You should plan to check tire pressure at least once per month. Tires can lose multiple pounds of pressure in a single month simply due to daily use.

Tire pressure can also be affected by factors such as towing, carrying extra weight in the car, or the distance driven. A sudden drop in external temperature can cause a rapid loss of pressure, making routine checks vital during these transitions. Furthermore, reduced air pressure can be caused by leaky valve systems, punctures, or other hidden damages.

Davis Acura is Here to Help

If you have confirmed that your tires are at the correct PSI but the TPMS light does not go away after driving, this could signal a more complex issue with the sensor or the tire itself. If you notice that your tires are losing pressure quickly, there may be a hidden internal problem that requires immediate attention.

In these situations, it is essential to visit a dedicated Acura service center for an inspection. Davis Acura is ready to assist Newtown and Yardley neighbors with all their maintenance needs. Located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, the dealership has been serving the community since 1987. Davis Acura features a dedicated, amenity-filled Acura service center staffed with professionals who can perform comprehensive maintenance. This includes assisting customers with maintenance essentials like determining how to check tire pressure and performing necessary adjustments or repairs.

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