Here’s How Many Degrees The Temperature Needs To Drop In Utah To Lower Your Tire Pressure

With fall in the air and holiday travel on the horizon, now is the time to check your tires. Here's some things to check that are often overlooked until you are sitting by the side of the road loosening lug nuts.

Tire Health: Essential for Winter Driving Conditions

Cooler air means the air molecules in your tire get closer together. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, you can expect the psi in your tires to drop 1. During the summer your tires were at 32 psi and are now probably down to 30 to 29.

Cars that keep track of the tire psi are helpful, but it only tells you when they get lower than a certain threshold. Check your tires with a gauge and match the recommended psi that you can find on the sticker inside on the driver side door panel.

Spotting Issues: Tread Wear and Tire Condition

Don't forget to check the spare tire as well. However, many vehicles don't come with a spare tire these days so don't get frustrated if you can't find one. These cars usually provide a kit to repair or inflate the tire.

You should also check the tread on your tires. You can use a penny or a coin to see how much tread you have. Put a penny into the deepest groove and if you can still see Lincoln's head, the tread is too low. Tread is important in wet weather.

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Also, check for uneven tread that might signal an alignment issue. Look to see how the tires are holding up. See if there are cracks on the sidewall or embedded nails. A quick check will save you trouble later.