The car’s tires are like a person’s feet. If your feet are sore or you wear shoes that have very little or no support at all, then you are likely to get injured. The same analogy applies to cars and its tires. The tires are the part of the car that touches the road. It bears the weight of the car and its passengers and cargo. Thus, it is the part of the car that is subjected to the most wear and tear. Checking it regularly may save you from expensive repair, and it can save your life.

Check the tire pressure once weekly

The tire pressure is measured in pounds “per square inch” (psi). This not only measures how much air there is in the tire, but it also measures how much that amount of air inside the tire pushes against the inner walls of the tires. To check how much air you should keep inside the tires, check the manual for the car manufacturer’s recommendations. If your car isn’t brand new or if you’ve changed your tires before, the recommended tire pressure should be embossed on the tire itself, near the rim.

Stick to the recommended tire pressure: too low tire pressure means more drag as more of the tire touches the road, there is more friction, and thus, more rubber gets eroded as you drive your car. If the pressure is too high, your ride will be too “bouncy” and only the middle of the tire surface will touch the road. Either way, the wear on the tire will not be even and it will affect how much gas you consume: drag makes you push harder on the gas pedal, increasing the consumption of fuel to simply propel the car forward.