How to Fill Tires With Air

The right air pressure and inflation in your tires can increase fuel economy, improve ride quality, extend the life of your tires, and help your vehicle handle better on Herriman roads and highway. If you’re wondering how to fill tires with air, our service team near Midvale is ready to assist.

Learn more about how much air you should add to your tires, and why it’s important to know the recommended pounds per square inch (PSI) with our guide.

How to Fill Tires With Air Step-by-Step

Maintaining your car tire pressure is one of the easiest regular tasks you can do for your vehicle. Not only do tires move your car, truck, or SUV forward, but they also keep you and your family safe.

To add air to your tires, follow these steps:

1. Pull up next to the air dispenser at a refueling station.
2. Make sure you can reach all four tires with the air hose. The air hose is anywhere from 10 to 15 feet long.
3. Remove the cap from the tire valve on the first tire. Make sure not to lose the small cap, so put it in your pocket or someplace secure in your vehicle like on a seat or in a cup holder.
4. Then, use the tire gauge to check the air pressure in the tire. A tire gauge is relatively inexpensive, or you can use the one attached to the air hose.
5. Push the end of the hose into the tire valve.
6. Inflate the tire to the recommended pressure rating in short bursts of 10 seconds each.
7. Use the tire gauge to determine the tire pressure again after you inflate it.
8. Continue to do this until the tire is inflated to the proper level.
9. Repeat this process for the other three tires, if needed.

If you have an electric air compressor in your cargo area or trunk, you can replace the first two steps by just plugging in your air compressor in your vehicle and then following steps 3 through 9.

How Much Air Should I Put in My Tires?

You can find the recommended tire pressure for new vehicles on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If you can’t find a sticker, check the owner’s manual or driver information center through the computer. You’ll find everything you need to know about your car’s tire pressure in any of those places.

Generally, passenger cars suggest 32 to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) when they’re cold. To get the most accurate reading you can, check the tire pressure after the car has cooled off. Larger pickups or SUVs might have 36 to 39 PSI.

When inflating your tires, keep the following in mind:

• Don’t inflate your tires to the psi given on the actual tire. This number indicates the maximum amount of pressure the tire can hold, not its recommended psi.
• You can usually tell that you’ve overinflated your tires when the ride quality is bouncy and the car is harder to handle. You might also sense your handling is a bit stiff.
• Underinflated tires can lead to faster tire wear and tear, meaning you’ll replace the tires more often.
• You can feel underinflated tires by sluggishness in the tires and when turning.

Schedule Tire Service in Sandy!

Are your tires underinflated or are they having trouble holding air? Are your tires nearing the end of their usable lives with low treads? Perhaps it’s time for your vehicle’s tire service like a tire rotation or wheel alignment near South Jordan. Contact us or call 801-553-5250 to learn more about what we can do, from brakes and batteries to oil changes and transmission service. We’re happy to help in any way we can!