When to CheckCheck your tires once a month or more. Do notforget to check the compact spare tire, if yourvehicle has one. The compact spare should beat 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional informationregarding the compact spare tire, see CompactSpare Tire on page 5-111.How to CheckUse a good quality pocket-type gage to checktire pressure. You cannot tell if your tires areproperly inflated simply by looking at them.Radial tires may look properly inflated even whenthey are underinflated. Check the tire’s inflationpressure when the tires are cold. Cold means yourvehicle has been sitting for at least three hoursor driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.Press the tire gage firmly onto the valve toget a pressure measurement. If the cold tireinflation pressure matches the recommendedpressure on the Tire and Loading Informationlabel, no further adjustment is necessary. If theinflation pressure is low, add air until you reachthe recommended amount.If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing onthe metal stem in the center of the tire valve.Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gage.Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valvestems. They help prevent leaks by keeping outdirt and moisture.5-68
