You’ve probably had the experience when the temperature dips down into the freezing mark that your tire pressure light comes on in your car. It is true that air pressure in your tires decreases in the cold weather, but why? Air compresses in lower temperatures, so for every 10 degrees colder the outside air gets you can lose as much as 2 pounds/square inch (psi) of tire pressure. So you can imagine what the difference is from the hot, steamy temperatures of the summer to the bitter cold of the winter months.
Why does this matter?
Under-inflated tires are one thing that has been shown to cause Connecticut auto accidents. When your tire is under-inflated more of the surface of the tire is touching the road and therefore leaves your tires open to additional exposure to ice and snow patches that can cause you to spin out and find yourself in a car accident.
Not only will ice and snow become more of an issue when your tires are under-inflated, but regular handling of the car can become an issue as well. With low tire pressure your car can become difficult to handle which will lead to more risk on the roadways.
One final downside to low tire pressure is your gas mileage. While this may not have an impact on your safety, it certainly will have an impact on your wallet and over time could become a real problem. Cars that are driving with tires that are improperly inflated are more likely to have decreased gas mileage.
Save money, save your life, make sure your tires are correctly inflated year round and especially in the cold winter months.
If you or your loved one has been involved in a Connecticut auto accident due to incorrectly inflated tires, contact our office and we can help protect your long term interests.
