How to Inflate Car Tires

You can easily inflate car tires with a household pump or a gas station pump. Remember to bring a tire pressure gauge to make sure you inflate to the required pressure. Maintaining the right tire pressure will help prevent a tire blowout that can occur when a tire is over-inflated or hit hard. Adequately inflated tires also help save fuel and operate the vehicle more efficiently.

Table of Contents

Pressure Gauge

Buy a tire pressure gauge. Find this tool at an auto parts store – brands NAPA, AutoZone, Checker, Kragen, O’Reilly, or Canadian Tire. Pocket pressure gauges are cheap and convenient to carry around. In the US, the price of a pressure gauge ranges from $5 for the basic model to over $30 for the digital one, which has a steam release button or can even emit a voice. ^{[1] X Research Source} Pocket pressure gauges come in two types: meter type and pen type.

The pen is long, thin, and made of metal, about the size of a pencil. When connected to the tire pump head, the scale in this tool will slide out of the housing when impacted by the air pressure.
The watch type has the same connection as the pen type, but it has a dial and a pressure indicator.

Check the pressure in the tires. Find a rubber or metal valve head located along the inner rim of the wheel, and unscrew the valve cap. Press the gauge head of the pressure gauge into the air valve. Hold the meter steady and watch for a slight gasp as the gauge begins to measure the air pressure in the tyre. A few seconds later, remove the gauge from the tire and read the pressure value on the small display located on the side of the instrument.

Determine the amount of air to be pumped into the wheel. Tire pressures typically range from 30-35 psi, but light trucks typically require higher pressures. ^{[2] X Research Source} Some vehicles require equal air pressure on all wheels, but others require slightly different pressures on the front and rear wheels. Tires tend to drop about 1 psi per month. You should check your tire pressure at least monthly, as ambient temperature affects the pressure. Here’s how to detect a tire leak. It is best to check the tire pressure every time you go to refuel. Instead of waiting by the pump, take your watch to check the tire pressure. Remember to check the pressure of your spare tire twice a year, to avoid the event that it will run out of air when you need it.

See your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the sticker on the driver’s door post for recommended tire pressure. There is a label on it stating the recommended tire pressure in psi or kpa.
If the tire is completely flat, there may be a leak. Try inflating again and wait to see if the tire holds air. If the tire is holding air, try to ride for a while and check the pressure again. If the pressure drops, it means the tire is leaking air and needs to be repaired. If you can hear the air coming out while pumping, the only option is to replace the spare wheel. If more than one tire is flat, you need to call an ambulance.

Prepare before pumping

Remove the valve cover. You will screw the valve cap back on after pumping, so set it aside or keep it in your pocket. Consider not removing the valve cap until you are ready to pump that wheel – that way the valve cap can’t be lost.

Find the pump. The automatic air compressor pump has a higher price but the pumping speed is fast. You can use a foot pump like a bicycle pump, but pumping takes longer and requires a lot of work. You can buy the pump yourself or borrow it from a friend – otherwise most gas stations have a wheel pump that works by inserting coins.

If you use a bicycle pump, a switch valve head is required. Consider having someone help you pump so you don’t have to pump your wheels alone. Car tires are much bigger than bicycle tires!
When buying a tire pressure gauge at an auto parts store, you can also purchase a pump that operates on the vehicle’s 12v power source.

Make sure the tires are cold. That means you should check your car early in the morning or run less than 3km since the tire has deflated. If you’ve run a few kilometers, the pressure gauge reading is no longer accurate.

Use the pump equipment of the gas station. This pump is usually located on the periphery of the gas station’s parking area, somewhere separate from the gas station. If you don’t see it, ask the service staff. Maneuver the car along the pump and find the coin slot. Pump prices in the US range from a few cents to a dollar (pump in minutes).

Park the vehicle close enough that the pump hose can reach all four wheels. This is not very important if you are only going to pump one or two wheels.
Check tire pressure while refueling. Most gas stations that charge a pump charge will waive this fee if you have already filled up. You need to go inside to ask the staff or show the receipt for the gas purchase.

Pump tires

Connect the pump tool. If you are at the gas station then open the pump by putting enough coins in the machine. You will hear a gurgling sound as the pump starts to run. Pull the pump nozzle to the nearest wheel (or wheel to be pumped) and press the pump nozzle against the valve head of the wheel. Hold the pump nozzle in place and wait for the air to pump into the tire.

If you hear a loud hissing sound, try to steady the pump nozzle. Most likely the pump nozzle does not fully match the valve head.

Be persistent. If your tires are weak, you may need to inflate each tire continuously for several minutes. If you have just inflated your tires in the last few months and only need to refill them, the time to inflate is only about 10-20 seconds. Consider using a hand pump for such refills if you feel sorry for the pump at the gas station.

Check the pump pressure and adjust if necessary. When you think the tire is inflated, pull out the hose and use the pressure gauge to measure the tire pressure. As a reminder, most tires require a pressure of 30-35 psi, but check your vehicle’s specs to be sure. Add more steam if pressure is lower than required, and release less if pressure is higher than required. When the tire pressure reaches the required value, the work is done here.

To release steam, use a fingernail or other tool to press the needle in the center of the valve. You will hear the sound of compressed air coming out of the tires. Deflate it little by little to avoid over-deflation, and check the tire pressure regularly during deflation.
Try to inflate the tires to the recommended pressure, even a psi or two short won’t do. It is estimated that for every 3 psi below the recommended pressure, one percent more fuel is lost. In addition, the tires also wear 10 percent more. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Screw the valve cap back on. After filling each wheel, be sure to screw the valve cap back on. This is not strictly necessary but will limit steam escaping. The valve will not naturally let out steam unless something is pressed against the valve hole – like a stick or finger.

Repeat this process for each wheel. If the pump hose does not come, you drive the car closer or turn the car. However, you should remember that each pump cycle is limited in time so you have to act fast if you don’t want to pay extra!

Advice

The recommended tire pressure is usually printed on the sticker on the inside of the doorpost. If you can’t find it, look in the user manual, which is usually near the bottom of the book.
Check tire pressure only when the tires are cold. If you have run a few kilometers, the measurement will no longer be accurate.
Learn in advance how to operate the pump cylinder. Usually the end of the pump nozzle will have a head for you to snap onto the valve stem, with a handle/button for you to press when you want to pump. If you release the handle, the gauge activates to show the pressure and air begins to escape from the tire. You should squeeze the handle during pumping, and periodically release the handle to check the pressure until the required pressure is reached.
On average, tire pressure will drop by 1 psi per month, so you need to check your tire pressure at least once a month.
If this is the first time you are using the pump, please note: the pump will only work for a short time (about 3 minutes). Therefore, you should remove the valve covers from the front, and park the car parallel, close to the pump to save time.

Warning

Due to excessive use, the pressure gauges of some pumping equipment at gas stations no longer work correctly. If possible, you should use your own watch.
Take care to avoid pumping the wheel too much higher than the recommended pressure. The pressure level that can cause a tire blowout in most vehicles is around 40 psi or more. To be on the safe side, don’t inflate your tires more than 5 psi above the recommended pressure.
Because of the time limit at the pump, it is recommended that you inflate your tires to the recommended pressure (according to the gauges at the pump). After pumping is complete, use your gauge to re-measure each wheel, and release a little if necessary.
Sometimes, the pressure gauge at the end of the pump nozzle is made of metal with engraved graduations. This type of watch is difficult to see at night. You should bring a pocket pressure gauge for more convenience.
Be careful when pumping the wheel. Wheels that are inflated too hard will easily wear out in the middle of the tire and affect vehicle operation. On the other hand, insufficient tire pressure can cause the wheel to push down too much, overheat, and explode. This can cause rollover in vehicles with a high center of gravity such as SUVs. Soft wheels also make tires wear faster and use more fuel. Note that tires often have a higher maximum pressure rating than the one listed on the vehicle. Do not let the tire pressure be lower than the pressure indicated on the vehicle.
Avoid leaning on the wheel while pumping. Although the tire is unlikely to explode at a slightly higher pressure than recommended, you should still not lean on the wheel as a precaution.
When using a high-pressure air compressor (such as a pump cylinder at a gas station) to inflate bicycle tires, you should inflate them little by little to avoid over-pressurizing the tires and exploding.
You should keep necklaces, dangling jewelry, or the like away from you while working with the wheels (or any other part of the vehicle).

Things you need

Tire pressure gauge (dial is the most accurate).
Air pump/compressor.

Steps