Firestone did a study of over 9 million cars that were brought to their centers, and found that 42% suffered from underinflated tires – and that’s a national average. When broken out by states, California came in at the third worst position with 57% rate. Since underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, Firestone calculated that US drivers waste over $18 billion per year on additional fuel.
Underinflated tires may seem like a minor issue, yet if you consider all the effects of underinflated tires, it can have consequences that go far beyond your wallet. Here are the issues you may encounter when driving with underinflated tires:
- Increased fuel consumption
- Handling difficulty
- Increased braking distance
- Less stability when cornering or making emergency maneuvers
- Uneven tire wear which often results in premature need for tire replacement
- Increased risk of blowouts
- Steering feels unresponsive
- Suspension stress
- Driving in the rain: increased probability of hydroplaning
- Driving in the snow: increased probability of skidding/sliding
As you can see from the above list, underinflated tires can cause a range of symptoms, and results in increased costs, including the need for premature tire replacement.
At Oceanworks Berkeley we are acutely aware of the issues that can be caused by underinflated tires - that’s why we check and adjust tire pressure every time you bring your vehicle to us for service. We also offer tire inspections that include not just tire pressure checks, but also tire tread depth check, and a visual inspection for uneven tire wear.
So if your vehicle is giving you any cause to doubt that it has correct tire pressure, the TPMS warning light being just one of many symptoms, call our Berkeley auto repair shop and have your car checked out – you will have the peace of mind and a car that performs at its best.