Low tire pressure increases wear and tear on your tires and will cause your tires to fail sooner than they should. The key to keeping your tire pressure constant is to check it regularly. As your Mazda dealer in Wakefield, RI, we want to tell you more about how to test for a tire pressure problem and fix it.
How Do You Know You Have Low Pressure?
Your Mazda has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Sensors in the tires will detect low pressure, and this information will be sent to your car’s computer. The computer then illuminates the TPMS light on your dash. It’s unlikely that you’ll identify a low-pressure tire simply by looking at it. If the TPMS light illuminates, or you want to test the pressure in your tires, these are the easy steps to follow:
Buy a Tire Pressure Gauge
A tire pressure gauge allows you to check the pressure in your tires. You can use the pressure gauges in a gas station, but they can be unreliable as they are not regularly calibrated. There are two main types of tire pressure gauges: digital and manual. They will both give you an accurate reading, and the choice between pressure gauges depends solely on personal preference.
Check Your Correct Tire Pressure
The correct tire pressure for your tires is marked in two places. You can find this information in your car manual, and it is also on a plate inside the front passenger door jamb.
Your tire pressure will usually vary between the front and rear wheels, depending on whether your car is FWD, RWD, or AWD. Once you have the correct tire pressure for all your tires, write them down to make it easier to determine if one or more of the tires is low.
Check the First Tire
Choose one of the tires and remove the tire nozzle cap. This cap can be easy to lose, so put it in a safe place. Connect your tire pressure usage to the nozzle, and the gauge will display the tire pressure on a metal slide of a digital readout. Write the tire pressure down and replace the cap.
Check Remaining Tires
Repeat this procedure for your remaining tires. It’s also advisable to check the pressure in your spare tire to ensure it’s correctly inflated if you need it. Once you’ve checked all your tires, you’ll need an air pump to correct the low pressure in your tires.
A tire could be low for several reasons, including a damaged tire nozzle, a crack in the tire, or a pressure equalization between the tire and the air surrounding it. We can test your tire pressure for you, and repair a leaking tire or replace it. Call our service department today at Flood Mazda.
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