Why don't people check their tire pressure?

[jeffrey]

When it comes to saving gas, one tip you'll hear time and again is to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Even though this is said time and again (and I asume that most people know this) why is there so much reluctance for people to actually check their tire pressure? Opinions? Own reasons?

[kork13]

Laziness/not caring. Really that's the only reason. It takes 5 minutes to check and top off your tire pressures. If you don't have a gas station with free compressed air, a standard bicycle pump is perfectly sufficient.

I'll be honest, I don't always check it every few weeks like you probably should, but I'll normally do it at least every other month or so, and also before any long drive.

[LuckyRobin]

We check ours once a month, on the first unless it is nasty out, then it can wait a day or two. I imagine other people might not want to check it in foul weather, either, which can be several weeks/months long is some areas. Plus you either have to get down on your knees or bend into an awkward position, not always the easiest thing if you are disabled/pregnant/overweight/really tall, etc. And I imagine it slips the mind very easily. But yeah, mostly I'd go with laziness or not caring enough.

[GrimJack]

Most gas stations (remember when they were called 'service stations') do not have free air and water anymore so you have to remember to bring change and have you ever tried to add air to each of your tires while before the 4 quarters you put in expire without tripping over the hose or having it ripped from your hands by auto-retract?

It used to be automatic; check the air pressure and oil level while pumping gas - now it is extra effort. I guess I will just have to make new habits - I just discovered my rear passenger tire was about 15 pounds, darn! Thanks for the reminder.

[mom-from-missouri]

I think a lot of people don't even think about it, or are just too lazy to do it.

I know it is checked when we get the oil changed, but a lot of people skip that as well.

The kids check ours monthly, as well as all the fluids, in all our vehihcles. (It is written on the school scheduler. My husband does this with them as part of their homeschooling. They also add necessary air and fluids, change tires and do minor repairs. The 15 year old can change plugs now (daughter), except for the last one that is hard to reach.

[YLTL_Dan]

It's one of those things that you don't think about regulary... and if it's not a regular routine, it's probably not going to get done.

I knew for weeks that I needed to check mine, but something else always got in the way. When I finally did check it, I was about 10 lbs under pressure in 3/4 tires... embarrassing!

[bjl584]

Laziness. Or it's just something that you don't think about. I check mine everytime I do an oil change and tire rotation (every 5000 miles.) That works out to about every 5 months.

I will also check them when the weather changes abruptly like in winter when it goes down into the teens and single digits. You will often have to add a few pounds in the winter when the temperature drops.

[disneysteve]

I agree with the others. Either I don't think of it or I figure it gets done every time the car is serviced. I will check before we leave on a road trip typically or anytime if a tire just doesn't look right.

[Momma23]

For me it's just forgetfullness (is that a word???)

At one point about a year ago I noticed my gas mileage going down. I checked my air pressure and sure enough, all four tires were low.

Now I check on a regular basis.

[MonkeyMama]

Maybe it's where I live, but I couldn't tell you how many slow leaks (from nails?) I have found in my tires over the years. At the least we refill ever big weather change and check every time we drive out of town. Which means we check at least once a month. Anyway, many many times I have stopped for a tire repair on the way out of town. (Beats getting a flat in the middle of nowhere).

Could be a state thing, but air has to be free where you buy gas. & if you ask they generally turn it on for you anyway (free). So I'd chalk that up to "it never hurts to ask."

[disneysteve]

Could be a state thing, but air has to be free where you buy gas. & if you ask they generally turn it on for you anyway (free). So I'd chalk that up to "it never hurts to ask."

Few stations even have air hoses anymore. Many of the ones that do have coin-op machines. I only know of a couple of free air stations near my house.

[J. Spence Financial]

i gotta admit that i dont check my tire pressure like i should. i have an expedition which obviously has bigger tires. to my surprise even though it didnt look like it, they were like 20 pounds under inflated!

[maat55]

My wifes crappy BMW makes me do it.

[PMMM]

Check it your tires will last longer.

A lot of people do not have garages or air compressors. I happen to have both so it makes it easy. But I know many people who have a garage and air compressor and they still don't check the air pressure.

It's really a shame too because proper air pressure will REALLY extend the life of your tires. We drive Mini Coopers and have a lot of friends who complain that the tires on there car lasted only 15 to 20 thousand miles. We drove our factory run flats to 45,000. At $220 for each tire why wouldn't you check the tire pressure and rotate?

One other thing that people forget and is just as important is tire rotation. We rotate our tires ourselves in our garage. It gives us a chance to clean and wax the wheels so they stay good looking and the brake dust is easily removed. Of course some cars you can't rotate the tires because the front tires are sized differently than the rear. But then air pressure still comes into play.

I call it laziness and not knowing how much harm to the tires and how unsafe it is that causes people to ignore the basics. I have a routine for both cars. Every Sunday I check air pressure, oil level, clean the windows if necessary, add windshield wiper fluid, and just give them the once over. It takes just minutes for both cars.

[FrugalTexan75]

For me ... probably mostly laziness and partly that it doesn't even come up in my list of things to do ... It's rare enough that I even look at my tires. I know that's bad, but it is reality for me. Most days when I'm leaving the house to get to work, the only thing I check is to see if I have to turn the car on to defrost the windows, and when I get home the only thing I'm thinking about is how fast can I get inside and get my shoes off .. On the weekend, other than for church, I rarely even leave my house. So checking tire air pressure .. yep doesn't happen except when the oil gets changed or I bring my car in for some other service.