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The old saying “where the rubber meets the road” usually means something is reaching a critical point. Naturally the expression refers to automobile tires, since those crucial pieces of rubber are the only part of your car or truck that are supposed to make constant contact with the pavement. That’s why it’s important to know and maintain the correct amount of air pressure in vehicle’s tires. 

To get the right amount, turn not to the tire itself but to the vehicle and a label will often be located in the doorjamb. That’s where you can find the vehicle manufacturers suggested inflation level for car or truck. If it’s not there, check the owner’s manual. Recently, a reader asked why tire sidewalls often show a pressure rating, shown in maximum pounds per square inch (psi) that differs from the vehicle maker’s recommendation. This may be obvious to auto enthusiasts and mechanics, but not all motorists understand all the nuances.  

Tiremakers start with a set of standards, set by the Tire and Rim Association (TRA) in the United States and the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) and use their guidelines in developing tire sizes’ maximum psi and maximum load levels. 

There’s a load/inflation table for every size of tire but cars and trucks all have varying weights and sizes and therefore they handle and perform uniquely. Vehicle manufacturers come up with ideal tire pressures based on factors such as how much load a car or truck puts on its left front wheel during a right turn at 60 mph, for example. Some cars and trucks wind up with different recommended pressure levels for front and rear tires, even on all-wheel-drive vehicles. 

Through rigorous testing, the vehicle’s recommended tire pressure is determined, with the idea of balancing considerations of performance, fuel efficiency, safety, and overall longevity. 

Inflation pressure affects every aspect of the tire, including the load carrying capacity, tread contact patch shape (where the tire touches the road), and handling characteristics.” 

If a tire is underinflated, more heat is generated inside of it and this could cause structural damage. An underinflated tire also cannot absorb shock as well, making it more vulnerable to road hazards such as potholes. What’s more, the tire’s contact patch—where the rubber meets the road—will not be its correct shape. This puts more wear on the tire’s shoulders, those rounded parts of the tire between the sidewall and the tread, causing uneven wear and loss of efficiency. Ultimately, the tire will likely have less grip if underinflated. 

An overinflated tire can have less grip too. This can affect handling since the overinflated tire is not correctly absorbing impacts causing more force to be sent to the vehicle’s suspension. Over inflation also makes the tires’ tread footprint smaller, which can increase wear on the center of the tread. 

The key to maintaining proper tire pressure is checking psi levels at least once a month, according to the tire companies we talked to as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But who actually does that? Not many people. NHTSA estimates that only 19% of consumers properly check and inflate their tires, even though tires tend to deflate by about 1 psi a month. About a quarter of all cars have at least one tire which is significantly underinflated so choose safety and performance and check your tire pressures once a month. 

Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/tread-rightly-why-tire-pressure-matters/