The fall season is particularly hard on your car’s tire pressure. Autumn means frequent fluctuations in temperature, especially here in Maryland. You can have a frost overnight and it can be shorts weather by noon. Roadway Insurance, Inc., your MAIF car insurance provider, discusses how to take care of your tire pressure in fall.
Keep an Eye On Your TPMS Light
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. When one of your tires falls below the designated tire pressure, that’s when you see the light on your dashboard. This light isn’t designed to cause a panic. Many times your tire isn’t leaking fiercely to risk leaving you with a flat. It can be a much more gradual loss of pressure that’s finally triggered the sensor. There are multiple ways to tell what kind of leak you have.
Check the Time Your Light is On
In the fall, a lot of times the TPMS gets triggered in the morning. This is due to the temperature dropping pretty far at night and it takes a bit for it to warm up during the day. If you’re starting your car up to head to work in the morning, it isn’t a surprise for it to be on. See if the light is triggered during the rest of the day. A cool night can lower the pressure, but it may be fine by the afternoon.
See if it Turns Off While Driving
This is an easy way for you to tell if the light is just due to those cold nights. While you’re driving, the tires heat back up as they’re hitting the pavement. If your TPMS light goes off and stays off for the rest of your day, it’s most likely just a temperature issue. If not, and the light stays on throughout the day, it’s probably more than just temperature.
Always Have a Manual Pressure Gauge
The only definitive way to know where your tire pressure stands is to measure it yourself. In your manual and on your tires you should be able to see the ideal pressure for the tires. A pressure gauge can be bought at an automotive store. Store it in your glove box to make sure you have easy access when you need to test it.
Make Sure Your Spare is Ready
You always want to be prepared in case you have a severe leak or a full-on flat tire. Sometimes we forget that our spare tire needs to be maintained as well. Make sure your spare is in tip-top shape, particularly in the winter months. This means that it should be pumped up and ready with the rest of your tires. This is rarely something that’s regularly checked when your car is serviced.
Stay Safe With MAIF Car Insurance
Of course, make sure your insurance policy meets all of your needs to stay safe while driving. Call us or get a free quote online.