How to Fill Tires with Air

Keeping your tires properly inflated helps extend the life of your tires, as well as improve fuel economy, ride quality, and overall handling. If you’re wondering how to fill tires with air, the service team at MINI of San Francisco is here to help. Below, you learn more about how much air you should add to your tires, and why it’s important to know the recommended psi for your vehicle’s tires.

Adding Air to Tires: Step-by-Step Guide

Even if you’ve never adjusted your car’s tire pressure on your own, it’s not too hard if you have a guide. To add air to your tires, follow the steps below:

• Pull up to the air dispenser at your local gas station.
• Make sure you can reach all four tires with the air hose.
• Remove the cap from the tire valve on the first tire.
• Then, use your tire gauge to check the air pressure in the tire.
• Repeat this process for the other three tires.

It’s worth noting that the air hose gauges at many gas stations aren’t 100% reliable. This is often because driving causes the tires to heat and the inside to expand; this increases the tire pressure. Above all, you’ll want to avoid overinflating the tire. Use the air hose to add air in short bursts and make sure that—regardless of what the second reading is—you only top up what was lost before visiting the dispenser.

If you do add too much air—don’t panic. Simply release some of the air. Press the pin on the tire valve with the back of the air hose nozzle, or use the small knob on the back of the rounded end of the tire gauge. And most importantly, don’t give up if you have to adjust the pressure more than a few times. It takes practice!

How Much Air Should I Put in My Tires?

You can find the recommended tire pressure for new vehicles shown on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If you’re unable to find a sticker, check the owner’s manual; there, you’ll find everything you need to know about your car’s tire pressure. Generally, passenger cars suggest 32 to 35 psi (pound per square inch) when they’re cold. To get the most accurate reading you can, check the tire pressure after the car has cooled off. When inflating your tires, keep the following in mind:

• Don’t inflate your tires to the psi given on the actual tire. This number indicates the maximum amount of pressure the tire can hold—not its recommended psi.
• You can usually tell that you’ve overinflated your tires when the ride quality is bouncy and the car is harder to handle.
• Underinflated tires can lead to faster tire wear and tear.

Schedule Tire Service at MINI of San Francisco!

Are your tires underinflated? Or, does your vehicle require tire service like a tire rotation or wheel alignment? Contact our service center online or call us at 415-529-5590 to learn more about our services. In the meantime, browse our current service coupons for offers on much-needed service.