So i know your supposed to check your tires when they are cold. But how quickly does the pressure start to change from temperature?

I left my house this morning and drove 3 blocks to a gas station. I had just gotten my car back from the shop so i decided to check my tires, and they were all at 38-40PSI. I usually keep them at 31-32psi, but i wasn't sure if i should bleed some air out or check again tomorrow morning in my garage after the car had been sitting all night.

When do you guys check your pressures?

 

I check my tire pressure every time I fill up the car with gas, So about 2 times a week!!

 

First thing in the morning while still in the garage.

If you park it outside where the sun can get at it, check before the sun heats up the tires. Do it as early as you can. Driving the car even a few blocks on a hot summer day can increase the tire pressures to a point that you cannot be sure what they really are by the time you get to the filling station. In this case, check the tire pressures at home before you go anywhere. If you need air, then drive to the nearest station and immediately check the pressure again. Since you took the pressure before, you now know that whatever it says at the station is due to the tire heating up from driving it. If you read 30 psi first thing in the morning and you want to go with 35 psi, you now know that you must push in 5 more psi than what it says now at the filling station. You can check your work the next morning when you're back at home.

 

From having tire pressure monitoring systems on a couple cars I know the pressure doesn't build that quickly. Normal driving for 3 blocks isn't going to affect it more than 1psi.

Make sure you're using the same gauge or else the readings are worthless. I check mine in the morning before leaving too.

 

heh...i try to check it at home in the mornings, but no matter how early i wake up i always seem to be late for work...

my steering felt very light since i got it back, and when i tried to do a standing 180 last night on cold tires it just didn't feel right...so i know they were WAY over inflated...feels much better now, but i'm sure i can still bled off a PSI or 2 tomorrow morning.