Have you stepped outside to see that one of your tires is flat? What can affect tire pressure? Depending on a few factors you may be able to determine what made your tire flat. If you do discover what the issue is you you should be able to get your car back on the road.
A puncture
If your tire has a puncture it can affect your tire pressure. Any hole in your tire will allow air to seep out. Something like a nail or a screw can easily puncture your tire. Air escapes through the hole quicker or slower depending on the size of the nail.
This is one of the things that can affect your tire pressure. If the screw is near the center of the tire and you feel confident you may be able to repair the tire yourself. Check out our post about if a tire needs replaced.
Corrosion
What can affect tire pressure? Corrosion can affect how much pressure is in your tire. Typically you hear about battery corrosion. Tire corrosion is usually around the rim of your wheel. Over time salt, sand and other continents can enter the bead of your tire. This can create little tunnels of corrosion for air to escape.
If your tire pressure is low due to corrosion you’ll have to take the car to a shop and have them clean up the wheel. They will dismount the tire and they usually grind away the corrosion and use a bead sealer. After that, they will mount and balance the tire and send you on your way. Dismounting the tire is usually the only way to fix corrosion.
Temperature
Tires are heavily affected by temperature. Maybe one day your tire is at the right pressure. Then next day there is a temperature drop of 20 degrees. The lower temperature and affect your tire pressure. As the air gets colder it starts to contract. With this contraction, the molecules of air make less pressure.
When you have a cold day you should check your tire pressure. Fill the tire to the correct amount and you are good to drive. When you start getting warmer temperatures you should check your tire pressure again. As the air molecules start to heat up they expand to make more pressure.
A valve
A bad tire valve is another thing that can affect tire pressure. If a valve is leaking it can allow air to escape. With less air you have less pressure. Time and corrosive elements can affect a tire valve. If there is enough of a disturbance you can lose air in your tire.
Worn tire
While you may not have a puncture, corrosion, or a bad valve you can still lose air. If your tire is heavily worn you can start leaking air from the tire. More specifically the belt. Your tire has small threads of metal running throughout.
As your tire wears the belt gets closer to the surface. If your tire wears down enough you can lose air. By having your tire tread checked regularly you can prevent this issue. If you have an alignment issue the wear can be premature. You’ll have to consult with your local mechanic to determine if it’s time for some new tires.
What can affect tire pressure
There are multiple things that can affect tire pressure. Corrosion, a puncture, a bad valve, or even a worn tire can be the culprit. After you find out what the issue is you can begin trying to repair or replace the tire. You can find the right tire size and prices by shopping on Tirerack.com. Use their free tool to get the right tires the first time.