Nobody wishes to get a flat tire while on the road, but even careful drivers can’t rule out this possibility completely. This is why spare tires were invented during the early 1900s.
Spare tires have proven to be a piece of invaluable and essential equipment even today; however, not all brand new cars come with spare tires as they’re rarely used. Most spare tires remain attached to the undercarriage or in the trunk for years, gradually deflating with time.
When the time comes to use it, you may find the spare tire completely deflated, making it useless and losing its purpose. Maintaining the right pressure for your spare tire is an important aspect you need to look out for if you wish to drive your car around in a safe manner without any hiccups.
Not having sufficient air pressure in the tires will cause tire failure, reducing fuel efficiency, poor handling, and rapid degradation. On the other hand, driving around with an overinflated tire gives a bumpy ride, making the tires more susceptible to damage. So it’s essential to know what the right pressure for your spare tire is. Through this post, let’s find out what should your spare tire air pressure or PSI be?
What Is The Right Air Pressure For Your Spare Tire?
Looking at the owner’s manual or the sticker attached to the driver’s side door will help you find the recommended PSI reading for your spare tire. Maintaining the right PSI is important for the car’s longevity and safety. While over-inflated tires may blow up, under-inflated tires can lead to uneven wear-outs and overheating.
To get an accurate PSI reading, you need to check the pressure when the spare tire is cold. Since the external temperature keeps changing, make sure to check the PSI reading every week to maximize safety.
Checking the air pressure becomes more crucial during the winter when the temperatures dip and the weather conditions keep fluctuating. This causes the spare tires to lose air pressure more rapidly.
On average, spare tires lose or gain one PSI for every 10-degree fluctuation in temperature. For instance, if you experience a sudden dip of 30°, you will end up losing 3 PSI overnight. If the tires were already on a low PSI, the sudden dip might result in steering problems, flat tire, or extensive tire damage.
To ensure the longevity and safety of your tires, you need to maintain the right air pressure using a tire pressure gauge. Car experts claim that you need to check the air pressure at least once a month or every time you refuel your vehicle.
Can You Pump More Air In Your Spare Tire?
Spare tires have warning labels that indicate you’re not allowed to use them for more than 50 miles for a single trip and must be driven at a speed of 50 mph. Before using these spare tires, it is advisable to check the air pressure and make sure it’s filled to 60 PSI.
If the PSI level is less than 55, the tire may pop out from the rim, making it completely useless. So make sure to fill it to the recommended level before you start using it on the road.
How Can You Pump Pressure To Your Spare Tire?
Adding pressure to your spare tire won’t take much time and can be done in many ways. To fill up to the usable air pressure level, you need to be aware of the recommended PSI level of your vehicle.
After checking the label or owner’s manual, you can stop by the nearest gas station or a tire dealership and use the self-service air compressor for refilling. Usually, pressurizing the spare tires is done free of charge or at a nominal cost in some places.
Here are some steps you need to follow to add air pressure to your spare tires in the gas station:
- Drive to the local gas station that has an air compressor.
- Get the spare tire from the storage compartment of the vehicle.
- Open the rubber stem cap from the spare tire’s valve.
- Connect the air compressor hose to the valve and enter the air pressure level onto the machine.
- Fill the air in the spare tire till the machine beeps.
To avoid the trip to the gas station, the cheapest way to add pressure is to get a manual foot air pump that has a built-in pressure gauge and fuel your tires on your own. The gauge lets you know when you need to stop.
Adding pressure to your spare tire is an easy process, and most gas stations offer self-service for free. By keeping a spare tire in your storage compartment or trunk and maintaining the correct PSI levels at all times, you’ll be able to handle even the worst-case scenarios.
In most cases, the recommended air pressure level is around 60 PSI. If you’re using a full-size spare tire, you would have to fill it up with the same amount of air as the standard tire you’re using.
