After reviewing results from over 9 million visits, Firestone discovered that 42% of vehicles in the US had underinflated tires, and that this needlessly increased fuel costs by over 18 billion dollars every year.
It would seem that this number must be wrong, since most modern cars have TPMS sensors which warn drivers when tire pressure falls below a certain threshold – and here is the rub – your TPMS light only illuminates after the tire is already significantly underinflated (typically 25%). And considering how easy it is to ignore the TPMS light when tires visually look ok, this number may be correct.
At South Denver Automotive we consider this problem to be important enough to offer tire inspections that include not only tire pressure checks and adjustments, but also tread depth evaluation, and a visual inspection for uneven tire wear. Underinflated tires can increase braking distance, increase probability of blowouts, increase fuel consumption, make handling more difficult. Correct tire pressure is particularly important when driving in inclement weather – underinflated tires can increase probability of hydroplaning, and in winter, increase probability of skidding or sliding on winter roads.
So if you suspect your vehicle’s tires will need to have air pressure adjusted, or you simply want the peace of mind that comes with regular tire checks, call our Denver auto repair shop – we can get your car quickly checked out and back on the road.