Optimal tire pressure is important for safe handling and fuel economy. Luckily, if you don’t have an air pressure gauge of your own, it’s easy enough to check your tire pressure at a gas station.
It’s hard to tell whether a tire’s pressure is at the right level just by looking at it. Checking your PSI is the first step to finding out whether you need to add more air to your tires—or let some out. Most gas stations typically have the tools you need to do this, but they can seem a little intimidating if you’ve never needed to use them before.
Maybe your dashboard’s indicator light started warning you about your tire pressure, or maybe you’re just curious to know what yours is. Whatever the case, Jerry
, the app that saves drivers time and money on car insurance
, is here to show you the ropes on how to check your tire pressure at a gas station. How to check your tire pressure at a gas station
Do you suspect you might need to fill your car tires with air but don’t have an air compressor of your own? Luckily, it’s easy enough to do at a gas station. In many cases, it’s actually free, and ones that cost money are usually a couple dollars or less to use.
Checking your tire pressure at a gas station might seem complicated if you’ve never tried it before, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s a pretty quick and straightforward task. Here are the steps involved with checking your tire pressure at a gas station so you can handle it like a pro.
Start with cold tires
The first step to checking your tire pressure: start with cold tires if you can.
Vehicle and tire manufacturers’ recommended PSI levels are based on the readings you’d see with cold tires. Since tires heat up due to friction against the road when you drive—and since air expands when it gets warmer—hot tires will give your tires a different PSI reading.
But if you don’t have an air compressor at home and you’re not within close range of a gas station, filling up your tires while they’re still hot might be inevitable. You might have to compensate by aiming for a PSI that’s slightly higher than the recommended tire pressure range—possibly about 3 to 4 PSI higher, depending on how warm they actually are.
Know the recommended PSI
Tire pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). Different tires will have different PSI requirements.
There are a few ways to find out your tires’ recommended PSI:
Check the tires’ sidewalls to read your tires
: Along with your tire size and the brand name, you should also see a phrase like “max air inflation” or a range of two numbers followed by “PSI.” Check your owner’s manual or the sticker on your driver’s side door jamb: These should note the recommended PSI for the tire size considered standard for your vehicle. If your tire size is nonstandard, however, you might need to refer directly to the tire’s recommendations.
Note the PSI for each vehicle tire
Tire pressure requirements might differ slightly between front and rear tires, so it’s important to note the recommended PSI for each of your tires.
To save yourself some time moving back and forth between tires, consider writing them down on a piece of paper or making a note on your phone.
MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
Check the tire pressure with the air pressure gauge
To check your tire’s pressure, start by unscrewing the valve stem cap on your tire. Then, take the air hose and press the pressure gauge on the tire’s valve stem. If you hear a hissing sound, you may need to press down a little more firmly to get an accurate reading on the gauge.
How you’ll find that pressure reading will depend on whether you’re using a manual gauge or a digital one.
A manual gauge has a bar that slides in and out of the gauge and has notches to indicate different measurements, like a ruler. A digital gauge will show you your PSI reading on a screen.
Pro Tip Consider keeping a personal tire pressure gauge
in the glove box or another area of your car to more easily check your PSI when you need to.
Fill to each tire’s recommended PSI
Different air compressors can work a little differently, so before attempting to add air to your car tires, you’ll want to read the directions on the particular compressor at the gas station.
Some will allow you to enter your desired PSI and fill your tire to that level automatically. Others will require you to press down on a handle to add air manually.
Make sure to stay within the recommended PSI range for your tires. You should generally aim to stay within 3 PSI of that range.
Overinflated tires or underinflated tires could end up damaging your vehicle’s tires, so make sure they’re at the correct level before you pull out of the parking lot. And don’t forget to replace those valve stem caps!
Why is tire pressure important?
Driving with the correct tire pressure in all your tires is vital for optimizing your car’s performance, as well as your safety.
Overall handling is more responsive, and it’s easier to come to a quick stop when you need to. Tires with the right PSI can also improve your vehicle’s gas mileage.
Over-inflating or under-inflating your tires, on the other hand, could increase wear and shorten their lifespans. Your car’s handling may also become less responsive, and it could take longer to come to a stop, which gives you less time to avoid potentially dangerous driving situations. You’re also at a higher risk for tire blowouts.
How often should you check your tire pressure?
Because your tire pressure is important for safe handling, it’s generally recommended that you check your tire pressure at least once a month to make sure it’s maintaining the proper PSI level.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), you never know if a faulty sensor or other factors could be preventing you from getting an accurate reading, so it’s still a good idea to routinely double-check those PSI readings with another air pressure gauge.
Here’s a tire maintenance routine tip: If you fill up at the gas station every two weeks, it might be easiest to plan to check your tire pressure every other refuel.
MORE: How often to check your car’s tire pressure
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