How to Check the Tire Pressure on Your Vehicle

Tools you will need to check your vehicles tire pressure will include a tire gauge and possibly a pair of latex or rubber gloves. Tire gauges are available in either manual read or digital. The older style manual read gauge consists of a pen like tube with a fitting on the end which allows the gauge to fit over the tire valve stem. The air pressure from the tire then pushes a rod from the tube. The rod is marked with numbers indicating the PSI or pounds per square inch. The point at which the rod meets the gauge itself is the indicated tire pressure. Digital gauges are more self serving and consist of different shaped gauges. There is a window for reading the results and typically some sort of reset or power button. The gauge operates in the same manner as there is a fitting which allows the gauge to fit over the valve stem. The gauge then reads and displays the tires pressure. As for the gloves, if you are not comfortable with the brake dust and road grime typically found around tires and wheels then gloves may be good option.

The first step in performing any work on or around your vehicle is to make sure the keys are removed from the ignition and the parking brake is securely set. If the keys are out of the ignition there is no possibility of the vehicle being accidentally started. With the brake firmly there should be no potential for the vehicle to roll as you are working.