True confessions from a car enthusiast who rarely checks tire pressure. When was the last time you checked yours?
Life has a way of humbling. Case in point - tire inflation, age and condition. Would you believe I am one of those guys who preaches regular preventative maintenance, but never makes time to practice it?
I am the proverbial shoe cobbler with holes in my soles. When I checked tire inflation recently on my daily drivers, I found under-inflation not to mention rubber deterioration from both age and under-inflation. These two issues come from neglect mostly - and time.
On average, tire manufacturers suggest checking tire pressure once a week, which isn't practical by anyone's standards because who has time for it on a weekly basis? However, you can check your tire pressure when you pay your monthly bills or every two weeks when you get paid if you're really worried about inflation. It's like changing smoke detector batteries in spring and fall.
Tire under-inflation is gross inefficiency. Because under-inflation causes rolling resistance, your vehicle burns more fuel because it takes more throttle to move it. And because there's more rolling resistance, there's more friction and heat, which cause rubber deterioration. What's more, under-inflation causes tires to lose their natural shape (roundness) causing a rough ride and instability.
Although we discourage over-inflation, it does reduce rolling resistance and improves fuel economy. Key is not to overdo it. It is best to follow your tire manufacturer's recommendations when it comes to tire pressure. Whatever the maximum recommended pressure is, go with that for best results.
And one more thing - tire age. Although you may rarely drive your Mustang, tire age is a factor in tire safety. Tire life, on average, is 5-6 years. Replace your Mustang's tires every 5-6 years in the interest of safety because rubber has a limited life span and does deteriorate over time.
Now where was that tire pressure gauge?