Learn how to calibrate tires to maintain your car’s efficiency and safety.
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Maintaining the right pressure is essential to increase tire durability. However, the reality is that a good part of the vehicles in Brazil circulate without properly calibrated parts, since this is not a habit of drivers.
In addition to how to store the equipment and how to read the “rubbers,” we will help even more and answer the five questions to have the ideal pressure and show you how to calibrate the tires.
How Do I Know What The Tire Is?
It will vary according to each model. To find the information that indicates the calibration, refer to the car’s manual. With it in hand, find the chapter that talks about the tires, and there will be the calibration number.
If you no longer have the car manual available, the information can be found elsewhere in the vehicle. The most common are: the fuel cap, on the side of the door, on the glove compartment cover, or on the tires themselves.
What Do Calibration Acronyms Mean?
The automakers use three systems to specify the calibration on the cars. They are: PSI (Pound Per Square Inch), BAR and kPA (Pascal SI – International System). When faced with ‘2.2 / 32’, for example, this is the calibration.
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When & How To Calibrate The Tires?
Most drivers do not remember to calibrate the car’s tires. When they remember, they do this once and go a long time without doing a new calibration, which can become a problem over time.
The ideal is to carry out the calibration weekly or, at most, every 15 days. In addition, it is necessary to know how to calibrate the tires before hitting the road, even if it is less than a week since the last time the pressure was checked.
In addition, it is important to do the calibration with cold tires, as soon as you leave the house in the morning, for example. Otherwise, stop the car and wait between five and 10 minutes until the rubbers cool down a little.
Is It Worth Calibrating Tires With Nitrogen?
Yes, this calibration is worth it. Unlike compressed air, filling the tires with nitrogen is an advantage, as it maintains the ideal pressure for a longer time, that is, it does not expand as much. In addition, wear is also less.
But to do the calibration with nitrogen, it is necessary to take some precautions. The main one is filling with cold tires. Ideally, the car should be at a standstill for at least an hour or have traveled less than three kilometers.
Does The Calibration Change Depending On The Weight In The Car?
Yes, it changes. The heavier the vehicle (with bags or people), the greater the tire pressure. To know the minimum and maximum calibration, check the information contained in the car’s manual or on the other labels located on the car.
Remember To Calibrate The Spare Tire!
This is not a doubt, but a warning for drivers: when calibrating the vehicle’s tires, remember the spare tire. Depending on where it is located, we know how difficult it is for many people. However, it is imperative to calibrate it as well.
In addition, many people think: why calibrate a tire that I am not using? Now, we never know when we will need it, and if that moment comes, it is important to be calibrated. In fact, have you ever imagined needing and seeing it withered?
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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