Tires are an integral part of any truck's performance. They provide traction, braking and contribute to fuel economy. Properly maintained wheel pressure will also make sure that your tires last longer. Here is some helpful information on properly monitoring your truck's wheel pressure, the indicators for repair (such as low air), and details of various repair services that can fix the issues.
Reasons Why Tires Often Lose Pressure
There are many variables that can cause your tire pressure to go down but here are a common few.
- Leaks
- Punctures in the tire sidewalls
- Over-or under-inflation
- Natural wear and tear.
A tire needs to have sufficient air pressure to maintain good traction on the road surface - when your truck's tires are under-inflated, they tend to wear down faster. Furthermore, the vehicle suffers in fuel economy when this happens, which affects your pocketbook too!
Some signs that show your wheel pressure is low or you need to get them checked:
- Noising (e.g., air whistling out of the valve stem)-You can hear this noise when the air pressure in your tire is too low.
- Unusual wear and tear on the tire treads could indicate that the wheel pressure is too low, or there is another issue with your tires.
- Uneven wear across the treads or sidewalls-usually caused by under-inflation, huge cracks on the sidewalls or treads that are not typical of the vehicle's age (e.g., cracks appearing at faster than usual rate)
- Tires that appear to be "flat" (lower than usual air pressure)-when you check their level with a tire-pressure gauge. Check the wheel pressure gauge's accuracy if your truck's tires are low.
- Wheel pressure warning light on the dashboard-This is a sensor alarm that tells you when your tires are under-inflated. If this indicator has turned on, stop driving immediately to avoid further damage.
Why you Should Properly Monitor your Truck's Tire Pressure
It would be best to have your truck's wheel pressure checked regularly. You can do it yourself with an air compressor or go to a local service station with wheel pressure equipment. It's also good to familiarize yourself with the correct wheel pressure ranges for your truck - this information is usually in your owner's manual.
If you find out something wrong with the tires (e.g., leaks, punctures, over-or under-inflation, etc.), it's best to bring your truck into a truck repair tire service center that can handle the problem.
Various Repair Services that can Fix the Issues
There are many types of services that generally perform this task. The most common ones include TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems), TPMS Rebuilds, TPMS Sensor Replacement, TPMS Service Centers, wheel pressure gauges, and of course, tire services.
TPMS are electronic systems that record the air pressure inside your truck's tires. The system is designed to regularly monitor the air pressure level in all your vehicle's tires, so you'll know when to take your vehicle for truck repair.
Components of TPMS:
- Sensors
- Controllers
- Warning indicators
A TPMS rebuild service is quite self-explanatory; it means that the technician will inspect your system to see if there are any problems with sensors or valves (which need to be replaced) and then re-install the TPMS system back to your vehicle.
The TPMS sensor is a very common part that's replaced for this service. When the TPMS light comes on, it indicates that one or more sensors have failed. These sensors can be easily replaced using several methods: the mechanic may use a tire mounting machine, a professional TPMS tool, or your car's owner manual.
