Check Tire Pressure When Cold ?

There must be plenty of variables here on that, How do you do yours?

Unless a tire just needs air right here, right now, when do you go about checking your tire pressures?

I guess on average I run around mine at least about 4 times a year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, and figure the "cold" varies for each season, and here the variables are sometimes extreme, say in the last 5 years there's been temps from 0 F to 115 F.

To get the "cold" temp of the season I check them in the cool of the morning, before the sun has hit them, and before they've been driven.



How do you do yours? And do you think the coolest time of day( on average per the season ) is the best time to check to get the recommended "check when cold" pressures ?

I believe "cold" is referring to tires that have not been driven in X hours. There is a big temperature difference between summer and winter, but as far as I know that is what tire manufacturers are referring to.

Originally Posted by ryanw

I believe "cold" is referring to tires that have not been driven in X hours. There is a big temperature difference between summer and winter, but as far as I know that is what tire manufacturers are referring to.

Exactly, Ryan, there is a big difference, even between 8am and noon. I've seen people airing up all their tires on a hot summer day after having been on the highway with it and makes me wonder what their pressure is the next morning. Some people also have -20 mornings, andI wonder about that too

Yeah, it is something I have wondered about as well. The best I can do is leave a little out, or add a little bit depending on extreme temps. Thankfully, there isn't too much of a temperature swing here in Sacramento most of the time. I keep my truck tires at ~30psi. If I am hauling, depending on time, I either fill up the rears to 40, or all to 40. My trailer, I keep psi at max since at least half of the traveling it does is loaded and the tire wear from being maxed out and empty doesn't matter as much.

I check the pressure when the tires look low lol. I'm not very nice to my tires.

I run 10 ply tires on my truck and 6 ply on my trailer. Ryanw is right that cold refers to tires not driven on. I run my tires at the max. 80 psi and check them whenever there is a drastic change in temp. either way. I have had to add or remove as much as 10 psi on every tire when the temps swing as much as 60 degrees. I went through 14 tires in the last year so pressure is important to me. My tire pressure gauge is right next to my magnet in every truck. I even check the spare at the same time. Nothing worse than having a flat only to find out your spare is flat as well. Okay I am an over protective parent.

they do that down here on the Sandbar NH. It's always funny you can tell the people who didn't listen...as their usually the ones being towed off the beach. Heh. Can only drive down here on the beach from oct. - april I believe. The tow trucks hate it, sure they'd love some of that tourist money.

An tire pressure...I only worry about it when I travel. I know bad on me, but..eh, what can you do.

Sirscrapalot - Rolling rolling, oh no I just lost my doughnut!

Sir, You are a master. Air in donuts, patent the idea and you will make millions. Or you can keep on rolling, rolling, Rawhide.

Cold means when you havent driven anywhere like before you start your day.After driving for awhile get out and feel your tires they are pretty warm

Originally Posted by Focker

Cold means when you havent driven anywhere like before you start your day.After driving for awhile get out and feel your tires they are pretty warm

Same as when the sun hits it too

Originally Posted by NHscrapman

when we used to drive on the beach the tire pressure was put to 5 psi what a monster to turn when we hit pavement at the end of the day

I once knew a man who had worked for a West Texas ranch and they had two ranches, 50 miles straight shot, and 150 miles around by road, but the only straight shot was on the railroad tracks. They knew the train schedules and when they needed to go to the other one they'd get on the tracks and lower the tire pressure, then just follow the tracks. He said you didn't have to hold the steering wheel, just give it the gas.
I was messing around some tracks once in an old Ford van and pulled over the tracks but my wheels was too wide, so not all vehicles would work for that. I just got to thinking my little Ranger might fit ; )
BTW, don't try riding the tracks on a motorcycle, that makes for one Bumpy ride!

Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

I check the pressure when the tires look low lol. I'm not very nice to my tires.

Kind of the same way
But I don't even have to look
I have a light that comes on when the pressure gets low
I run 80 in the back and 60 in the front
3 out of 4 times when the dealer rotates the tires they reset the 80 to 60 >> Back to front BUT forget to reset the sensors
So I get a flat tire signal next day

Haha NH, I used to do that too, buy used ones and wear em on out. For years I had a 1 ton Ford van with 16.5's(when 14s & 15's were the norm) and that size was near always 8 ply tires. I had one on the back once worn so thin I could count the plies up to #8. Going down the road one day I heard it give way with a whoosh! chu!chu!chu!chu!chu!

For years I was sold on Sears basic tires, $200 and you'd get 4 decent new ones mounted, with a road hazard that they'd actually honor. Not sure how they are now but if it's gone the way of their tools it won't be good. Hate to think what I'll do when my current set wears out, and that day is coming fast, but I doubt there's any place now with decent tires that aren't a fortune

In my area I play Town Fair tire , Sears and NTB (also Sears) against each other
They play the match price game