TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

Message Monday - Perform best under pressure? Your tires don't


5-22 message mondayNext to your brakes, your tires are the most important safety devices on your vehicle. This time of year the temperature can fluctuate quite a bit. It’s good to know tire pressure can vary 1-2 pounds per square inch (psi) for every 10-degree difference in ambient temperature. Too much pressure leads to less tread touching the pavement. causing a bumpier ride and increased stopping distances. Under-inflated tires mean too much of the tire surface is on the pavement, which can cause tires to overheat and lead to premature wear and poor gas mileage.

So how do you know how much air should be in tires? According to Car Talk, “A lot of people check the pressure listed on the tires themselves, but that's actually the wrong place to look. The number on the tire is the maximum allowable air pressure — not the recommended pressure for that tire when used on your vehicle. The recommended tire pressure is almost always lower than the maximum tire pressure. Check your owner's manual to find out where to look on your vehicle to find the recommended measurement. This number is usually indicated either on the driver's door pillar, the glove compartment door, or sometimes on the gas filler door.”

Now a little ear worm for those who fondly remember the 1980s -  https://youtu.be/a01QQZyl-_I

The fatality count of 104 is an increase of 11 since last Monday. In all of 2016, 404 people were killed on Iowa highways. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report.

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