Many car drivers have wanted to know about the lowest tire pressure they can drive on. So with that, let’s learn more about the lowest tire pressure. Let us start.
So what is the lowest tire pressure that you can drive on? If you have a standard passenger tire like almost all vehicles have, the low tire pressure you can drive on is about twenty pounds per square inch (PSI). Anything under twenty PSI is already considered a flat tire and will put you at risk for a great blowout.
A low tire pressure light is a pesky orange light on your dashboard, and it always seems to come on at the worst tires if you are running late for work or you might be stuck in traffic. If you notice a low tire pressure light that would pop up, you can be bothered, but sometimes, it is not something you should be concerned about. Some people will ignore for how many days.
But it would help if you did not do that. You should always check for your tire pressure. So with that, we have made this article for you. In this article, we will be talking about the lowest tire pressure that you can have that you can still drive your vehicle.
To learn more, stay and keep reading. Let us start.
Table of Contents
What Is The Lowest Tire Pressure You Can Drive On?
It does not make sense that you will drive with low tire pressure. But some people still want to learn how low they can go and continue driving their vehicle. Let us answer the question.
If you have a standard passenger tire like almost all vehicles have, the low tire pressure you can drive on is about twenty pounds per square inch (PSI). Anything under twenty PSI is already considered a flat tire and will put you at risk for a great blowout. So you have to check your tire pressure and keep your tires inflated properly.
Low tire pressure will negatively affect your tires, handling, fuel economy, tire wear, and safety. If you have a low tire pressure, the tire can cause your vehicle to be less responsive, and it will have less traction, and it will be difficult to avoid this emergency. So less traction means that your vehicle’s engine will have to work extra hard, and it will need to use more gas than it usually does.
According to the EPA, a properly inflated tire can increase fuel efficiency by about three percent or more. The fuel economy can also suffer if you will underinflate your tires. Inflated tires will lower your gas mileage by about 2.0 percent for every 1 PSI drop in average pressure.
It might not look like it at the beginning, but if your tires are underinflated by about twelve PSI, then it is expected. A tire that’s underinflated will cause the tires to distort, and it will then lead to an increase in wear, especially on the sidewalls of the tires, and it will put your tires with an increased risk of a blowout. Almost all the tire blowouts that are happening are caused by negligence in inflating the tires.
A tire pressure management system has been required since the year 2007. If you have a new car, your vehicle will tell when is the right time to inflate.
But if you have an old vehicle, you have to regularly check your tire pressure at least once a month. This is vital because tire pressure can be lost if no tire appears underinflated or flat.
At What PSI Is A Tire Flat?
A vehicle tire is considered flat if anything under twenty (20) PSI or pressure per square inch. If you are running your tire under twenty (20) PSI, then the tire’s sidewalls will get very hot.
If it happens, the rubber will break down, and the tire can come off the rim with a sharp turn. Eventually, this will lead to a tire blowout.
What To Do When You Have This Low Tire Pressure?
If you have low tire pressure, you have to inflate your tires. This is a quick and straightforward solution. But doing it must be done correctly and with preparation.
So you have to make sure that your tires are cold when inflating and measuring the pressure. It is best to do it in the morning or after driving for about a few miles. You must not measure the pressure of your tire after you have gone on a long ride.
You then also need to prepare some tools. First, you have to check for the pressure of your tires and check the tire pressure gauge. Nowadays, the gauges are very inexpensive, and they are also tiny; you can keep them inside the spare tire area. After that, you then need an air pump to inflate your tires.
Many types of air pumps exist, including a foot-operated, a hand-operated, and an automatic air pump. The hand and foot-operated air pumps are the less expensive ones.
However, they will also require more force and take more time. An automatic air pump will connect to the twelve V (12V) socket on your vehicle, making the entire job much faster and more convenient.
Summary
In summary, many car drivers still do not know how low their tire pressure is so that they can still drive it. Tires are a vital part of a vehicle, and they must be inflated correctly and enough.
It would help if you did not also drive a very low PSI because this can cause a blowout and be dangerous to the driver and the passengers. A flat tire must be repaired immediately.
Also Read:
- Tire Popped Off Rim
- Michelin Tire Dry Rot
- Can You Fill A Car Tire With A Bike Pump?
- Why Aren’t Tires Solid?
- Driving With Screw In Tire
Resources
Image credits – Canva
