Are you driving on thin air?
My wife, Cheryl, told me the other day that her tires needed more air.
"How do you know?" I wondered, not having detected any sagging myself.
Because, she told me, her new Malibu has a computerized readout of inflation for each tire on the dashboard.
No kidding.
I told her I wasn't surprised that they were underinflated since tire pressure wanes as the weather turns colder. I was surprised, however, to hear that she didn't know that. How about you?
Not only can underinflated tires cost you mileage and create excessive wear, but they pose greater risks of a blowout at highway speeds.
I think about that as I see cars around town, often older models with occupants I assume can ill afford to use more gas, with badly underinflated tires.
Cheryl and I went to a nearby gas station--one that offers free air (shouldn't it always be free?) rather than the one nearly across the street that charges for air--to properly inflate her tires.
Yesterday, I stopped in at the same station with my car and found my tires needed a little more air, as well (I keep a pressure gauge in my car). I was surprised to find a guy using the air hose and a woman waiting in line. I headed for work and stopped back at lunchtime, getting behind still another gentleman inflating his tires and arriving just before a third person pulled up to do the same. A great trend, I'm thinking.
Read more about proper tire inflation here.
Greg Peck
Nov 19, 2009 at 1:21 a.m.
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If the economist/ and scientists could only find a way to bottle up the gas* from these blogs, the markets would have an instant recovery. We could all breath a lot easier too. Sniff Sniff..wth is that smell?
Nov 18, 2009 at 10:24 p.m.
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gazettefan; They would have been better off just resting the pizzas wrapped in tin foil (w) on top of the engine. Almost a good idea. I think that was the year that the spelling of edsel changed to yugo.
Nov 18, 2009 at 10:06 p.m.
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The pizza oven in my 1989 Yugo broke down just after the warranty expired. Does anyone know of a service bulletin or recall that can save me a hefty repair bill?
Nov 18, 2009 at 8:26 p.m.
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garyprimer, Oh the humanity.
Nov 18, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.
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hannah, that comment is priceless. lol
Nov 18, 2009 at 8:17 p.m.
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Hydrogen has not been used to fill tires since the poorly received 1971 aluminum and magnesium belted HindenRadials were imported from Germany in 1971 and recalled for having leaking valve stems.
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:35 p.m.
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LOL
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:18 p.m.
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Am I the only one who owns his own air pump? It comes with a built-in air gauge and plugs into a cigarette lighter-type outlet in the vehicle. You can use it at home without the expense and the hectic experience of going to a gas station.
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:14 p.m.
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garyprimer, will Consumer Reports have any info on after-market rotating air compartments?
hannah, doesn't the 6000 schedule for tires require synthetic air?
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
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I have to say I don't mind paying 75¢ for air when it means the equipment is in good condition and works. I've used too many where the thing sputters and dies or the nozzle was run over 150 times and no longer fits tightly.
Nov 18, 2009 at 4:22 p.m.
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Kwik Trip is free. TA is 75 cents. I don't know what the others are.
Nov 18, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
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Transmission fluid is a poor additive for gasoline.
Nov 18, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
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Helium as a substitute for air will result in a lower vehicle weight, providing better gas mileage, but should be used with caution during the winter months due to the accompanying decrease in traction.
Nov 18, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
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I have a compressor at home, and fill my tires with a special blend of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases.
Nov 18, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.
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A new concept in air conservation utilizes a tire with rotating air compartment. This ingenious advancement in tire technology utilizes GPS and electric servo motors to keep the air compartment at the bottom of the tire at all times. Since only the air at the bottom of the tire is used to support the vehicle, cars with this option can operate with 89% less air by volume, a boon to air conservation and the environment.
Nov 18, 2009 at 2:50 p.m.
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All of the Kwik Trip stations in Janesville offer free air.
Nov 18, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
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So which locations in Janesville offer free air?
Nov 18, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.
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An addendum to Greg's important story is that for proper tire maintenance and even more importantly, driving safety: the air in your tires should be changed every 3000 miles.
Lobbyists for the rubber industry have successfully prevented this crucial fact from being stated in the owner's manual of new cars.
Congressional involvement in this matter is paramount. Watch for the mass emailing of the cyber-petition that encourages your legislator to focus on and rectify this vital omission.
Also watch for the grand opening of Gazettefan's Swifty Air and Deodorizer Change Shoppe. If we don't change the air in your tires and the deodorizer hanging from your rearview mirror in twenty minutes, it's free!!!
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