How to Put Air in Tires

Air pressure of your tire controls safety, comfort, tread life, gas mileage, and so much more. If a tire is low on air, the sidewall below will begin to compress. If you notice that a portion on one tire is smaller than the others, you know you need air.

However, you might not be able to tell if all four tires are running low on air unless you’re very familiar with how the tires look normally. Fortunately, your TPMS sensor should light up on your dashboard when it’s time to put air in your tires, and that’s a good indicator that it’s time to find a gas station or somewhere else to fill up. Once you’ve arrived, locate the air pump and find the correct PSI for your vehicle on your driver side door jam.

Now follow the below mentioned detailed steps to accurately on how to put air in tires.

Tools you need

You will just need a handful of tools to help you with.

• A pair of gloves
• Air pressure pump or compressor
• Tire gauge

The process

How to put air in your tires is a straightforward process, but doing it correctly is vital. Follow the steps to understand how to put air in tires at a gas station.

1. Park your vehicle near the air pump
2. Set the air pump to the desired PSI level
3. Remove the valve stem cap from the first tire you’re going to fill up
4. If you are using a digital pump, then continue to fill the tire with air until it beeps
5. Screw the valve cap back
6. Repeat the above process until all tires are filled

Important: Just one drop in PSI can lower your gas mileage by about 0.2%. For every 3-4 PSI units that your tire is underinflated, you are burning around 1% more fuel.

At times we find out that you have a broken valve once we are at a gas station. Here is a process to explain how to put air in a tire with a broken valve stem.

1. Lift up your car and remove the tire.
2. Release the tire’s air pressure
3. Remove the bead from the rim of the car
4. Dispose of the broken valve stem
5. Change tire valve stem
6. Pump air into your tire
7. Reattach your tire

You might also find out that your vehicle does not have a gauge or you have left it at home (yikes!). Follow the above process, but instead of waiting for a beep, inflate the tire for 5-10 seconds.

Remove the cap from the valve stem on your tire

After unscrewing your valve stem, make sure to place it in your pocket. These little caps are easy to drop and lose track of.

Attach the air compressor hose to the valve stem

Break out your tire pressure gauge and press it onto the valve stem. Make sure there are no leaks when you do, as they will throw off your reading. You know there’s a leak when you hear a hissing noise – this is air escaping. Attach the end of the compressor hose to the valve on your tire.

Turn on the air compressor

Once the air compressor is attached securely, turn it on. It is very important to see that your air hose is clean, and not ripped, torn or overused.

Check the tire pressure with the tire gauge

If your tire pressure is out of spec, simply adjust the tire pressure. To add, simply connect the airline to supply air. If there’s too much air, you will need to release it. Doing so is achieved with the dimple on the rear of your pressure gauge that depresses the valve stem or the pressure release button.

Turn off the air compressor and remove the hose

Once you are done filling the gas as per the desired PSI Level. Make sure to look for any irregularities in your pressure reading that may signify a leak. If everything is all right, turn off the air compressor and remove the hose.

Replace the cap

Rinse and repeat the process for all five tires (don’t forget the spare!) to ensure all are to spec and safe to drive on.

Final thoughts

How to put air in tires is a straightforward process, and putting the correct amount of air in your tires is vital to your tires’ performance. Whether you’re putting air in your tires at a gas station or somewhere else, the above step by step guide can save you time and money in the future. Just remember to make sure that you don’t over or under inflate your tires, as both can lead to reduced traction or a blowout.