Jason's Journal: Tire Pressure

Measuring your Tire Pressure
By: Jason McKinsey
Imagine this: You jump into your Volvo and start the engine.  Your heated seats and steering wheel feel amazing on this cold November morning.  You begin driving down the driveway and notice an orange warning light on the instrument panel which reads “Low Tire Pressure.”  You step out of your Volvo and begin to assess your tires.  The tires appear normal. You think, “Maybe the message is a false alarm.”  This nuisance is all too familiar to drivers this time of year.  But, why does this happen?
The pressure in your tires drop one pound of pressure for every 10 degree temperature drop.  Meaning, if you set your pressure to 36 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) in 90-degree July weather, and today its 30 degrees outside, your tires are now 30 PSI.  Newer Volvos are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system.  This system constantly checks the pressure in your tires and alerts you when the pressure falls below a normal level.  The “Low Tire Pressure” message displays when the tire pressure decreases to 30 PSI, and the “Very Low Tire Pressure” message displays when the tire pressure decreases to 20 PSI.  Both messages require attention because a low tire pressure will lead to serious issues.
An under inflated tire causes abnormal inner and outer wear on the tire tread.  An extremely under inflated tire will, at best, cause damage to the sidewall of the tire. Thus, making it necessary to replace the tire.  On the other end of things, over inflated tires will cause abnormal wear in the center section of the tire tread and reduce the life of the tire.
Having the correct tire pressure is vital.  You can find the correct PSI listed on the driver side door jamb.  The correct tire pressure of all automobiles is determined by the manufacturer.  Even though the tire may say maximum pressure 50 PSI, you should always follow your vehicle manufacturer recommended pressure.  The same tire on a different brand of vehicle may call for different tire pressures per manufacturer’s recommendations.
When checking your tire pressure, I recommend using a high quality tire gauge.  Using an inexpensive tire gauge, or the local gas station’s gauge, can provide a false reading due to possibly being calibrated incorrectly. 
After adjusting the tire pressure, you may need to drive for a short distance to reset the warning.  If that doesn’t reset the warning, you may need to access the tire pressure monitoring system through the menu from your center console display.
If you have questions or are experiencing any difficulty, please contact our service department at 717-755-7676 or at jason@lehmanvolvocarsyork.com.

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