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Have you checked your vehicle’s tire pressure? Driving with low tire pressure causes problems that range from inconvenient to dangerous. What are the signs that your car’s tires are having tire pressure problems? Read on to find out whether it's time to contact your Kia dealer to get certified tire service. Is Your Car’s Tire Pressure Low? Tires need refilling over time, so it's best to get in the habit of checking the pressure on a regular basis. However, there are other issues that may cause your tires to deflate, such as: more Damage from a nail or other sharp object Temperature changes causing a loss of air density in the tires Bent rims or other structural problems with the wheel Old and worn tires that have reached the end of their lifetime Signs That Your Tires Are Underinflated If the pressure in your tires is too low, you're likely to notice changes in your car's performance. These could include: Steering Issues Underinflated tires will severely affect the handling of your vehicle. It might affect the alignment so that your car feels as though it's pulling to one side. The steering might feel clumsy or spongy, and the vehicle will take longer to turn. Stopping Distance Because underinflated tires don't have the same grip or traction on the road, you might find that your stopping distances increase, and braking becomes slower. Lower Fuel Economy It's harder for your engine to push the car forward when the tires are too flat, so you might find that you're spending more at the gas pump. More Impact When the pressure is low, your tires will lose the ability to absorb and cushion the effect of bumps and ridges in the road, and the impact will feel stronger. Tire Warning Light Many vehicles are fitted with a warning light on the dashboard that will tell you if the pressure is too low. However, this is only activated if a tire is significantly underinflated, meaning that you could still be driving with problem tires before the light comes on. Why the Pressure in Your Tires Matters All of these effects mean that driving with low pressure in your tires will undermine your driving experience. More importantly, though, you will put your car at risk of a blowout. Underinflated tires heat up more quickly, and highway driving will put them under pressure that could cause them to collapse, putting you and other people in danger. Get Your Tire Pressure Inspected in Lanham, MD Today It's always a good idea to know the ideal PSI of your tires, and how to check the pressure yourself. However, there are extra advantages to using a professional service, as a technician will be able to rotate your tires, identify underlying problems, and adjust air pressure to allow for temperature changes. For the best tire services, schedule an appointment at DARCARS Lanham Kia, and let us make sure that your car is in optimal condition.

Whatever the season and road conditions, having properly pressurized tires is an essential part of a safe, smooth ride in your vehicle. Luckily, it's easy to check tire pressure at home, and by following these step-by-step instructions you can do it yourself! And if you do find your tire pressure is off, then never fear: a quick trip to your local Kia dealer to fill your tires back up to the correct pressure is all you need. Read on for our easy guide on checking your tire pressure at home. 1. Get a Tire Pressure Gauge (If You Don't Already Have One) The first step to being able to check your own tire pressure is to get a tire pressure gauge! This is a small tool that will allow you to accurately read how pressurized your tires are. You can pick these up at any gas station or auto parts store. more 2. Find Out What the Recommended Tire Pressure Is for Your Vehicle Next, you'll want to know what number you should be looking for when measuring your tire pressure! To find out what your vehicle's recommended tire pressure is, you can look at the sticker on the inside of the driver's side door. Usually, a vehicle's recommended tire pressure is written here, measured in psi (pounds per square inch). If you can't find the recommended tire pressure written down on this sticker, you can also find it on your vehicle's manual, or by searching online! 3. Wait Until Your Tires Have "Cooled Down" You should check your tire pressure when the tires are "cool," and not right after driving, which heats them up and affects the reading. Wait a few hours after driving to check your tire pressure for an accurate reading. 4. Remove the Cap from the Air Valve Next, remove the cap from the air valve on the tire you want to check. Make sure you store this somewhere safe, so you don't lose it! 5. Use and Read Your Tire Pressure Gauge Take your tire pressure gauge and push it into the now-uncapped air valve on the tire you are checking. It's normal to hear a hiss of air when you first do this, but you should push the gauge in tight enough that this hissing stops! Your tire pressure gauge should now show you (either digitally or via a moving measuring stick at the bottom, depending on the type of gauge) what your tire pressure is. Note this number and remove the gauge from the air valve. 6. Compare Your Reading to the Recommended Tire Pressure Now, compare your reading to what is recommended. If your reading is higher than recommended, your tires are overinflated. If your reading is lower, they are underinflated and may need some more air. 7. Repeat for Each Tire Simply repeat these steps for each of your vehicle's tires! Get Tires Serviced in Lanham, MD Today That's all there is to it! If you've followed these steps and noticed that your vehicle's tire pressure isn't at the recommended level, just come on down and visit us at DARCARS Lanham Kia and our team of trusted mechanics will have your tires back in perfectly-pressurized shape in no time!