Every driver should take care of their tires and ensure that they are well inflated at all times. For you to achieve this, you should consider investing in an air compressor.
Air compressors have become quite easy to carry around since they come in compact designs. You can store one in your car and use it to power your tires. If you have never used an air compressor, our guide will help you learn how you can use one to inflate your tires. You only need to know the tire pressure, get the tire ready for you to use the compressor then detach the hose.
Table of Contents
Why should you keep your tires well inflated?
Vehicles come with a lot of expenses. If you want to save money and keep your car in the best condition, you should pay attention to your tires. Investing in an air compressor can help you keep the tires at the right pressure. This can help you enjoy comfortable rides as you drive since properly inflated tires lead to accurate control of the car.
Car tires that have enough pressure have a great surface area leading to dependable traction. If your tires are not correctly inflated, they can easily slump into the road, increasing more contact with the ground.
This can affect your fuel mileage as the steering gets sluggish. The tires can start wearing quicker than expected, leading to increased expenses of replacing or repairing them. You can avoid such scenarios by choosing an air compressor that can help you inflate your tires regularly. Proper inflation of tires can lead to efficient driving.
How do you inflate tires using an air compressor?
Instead of relying on air pumps at gas stations, you need to have your own air compressor that can help you achieve a precise fill. Follow the steps below.
Check the tire pressure
Are you planning to go on a long drive? Before you start your journey, you should check the tire pressure to avoid any inconveniences. You should how learn to read the pressure correctly and interpret it just like the maker of the vehicle intended. You can find out this information in the fuel cover lid or glove compartment door.
Since these details are also present in the manual, feel free to keep a copy in your vehicle for future reference. Some of the cars have differing recommended pressures for rear and front tires. Car tires also contain PSI ratings, which shows you the maxim pressure they can hold. When you find the recommended pressure for the tires, you can measure them using a pressure gauge.
Measure the tire pressure
Having a quality tire pressure gauge is also essential for every driver. Though some of the latest vehicle models have a pressure monitoring system for the tires, experts recommend carrying a tire pressure gauge with you just in case you need it. The market offers different forms of tire pressure gauges such as digital and simple stick gauges. Use a single gauge when measuring the pressure of your car tires so that you can get consistent results.
For you to find out the specific tire that needs to be inflated, start by unscrewing the tire valve cap. Press your gauge into the valve. Hold it in that position firmly for a few seconds as you listen for a hissing sound. If some air seems to be leaking around the gauge, press it harder against the valve to seal it properly. Once there is no more sound, let the readout stabilize and note the reading. Do this on all of the car tires to find out which specific tires need to be inflated. Ensure you screw back the valve cap on each tire correctly.
Use the air compressor on the underinflated tires
Start by turning on your air compressor. If you are working with an electric one, look for an electrical outlet to plug it. Place the compressor next to the underinflated tires and connect the air hose. If the nozzle features a safety switch, you should activate it. Connect the nozzle with the tire valve stem so that the tire can fill up. If you are using a portable air compressor, you should check the current pressure of your tire on the available gauges.
You have to be patient when using a small air compressor since it may need more time to inflate a flat tire. Ensure you fill up the tire until it has the right pressure. Be careful not to overinflate it since this can make the tire bulge in the middle.
An overinflated tire can negatively affect the handling of the vehicle. When you finish inflating the tire disconnect the air hose and nozzle. Feel free to take another reading for you to confirm that the inflated tire is at the recommended pressure. Once you do this, you can now proceed with the next tire.
If you realize that you have overinflated one of the tires, you can take it to gauge out. Most of the tire gauges contain a flat stick, which allows you to press down on the pin. Push the flat stick against the valve stem pin until some air gets released from the overinflated tire.
You can confirm if you have lowered the pressure to the correct level by looking at its current reading after pushing some of the air out. In case the tire gauge you are using does not have the tire bleeding tool, you can still utilize car keys or a screwdriver to release excess air from an overinflated tire.
Final thoughts
Experiencing a flat tire in a place where you don’t have access to an air pump sucks. You can prevent yourself from such challenges by getting a portable air compressor. This can help you maintain the tire pressure since it enables you to inflate your car tires more conveniently. Doing this can prevent your tires from wearing out fast. Learning how to use an air compressor is essential. Follow the steps above to inflate your tires.
