The purpose of calibration is to adjust the air pressure inside the tire.
Tires with pressure 10% below the recommended level can increase fuel consumption by between 6% and 10%, depending on the characteristics of the vehicle.
In trucks, tires that are out of calibration have a 20% reduced useful life, impossibility of retreading and a 10% increase in fuel consumption.
This is because with little air, the tires change shape and require more engine power to move. Keeping your tires at the correct pressure not only saves fuel, but also extends the life of your tires and puts less strain on your suspension and steering.
What are the problems generated by the lack of calibration?
Without the right amount of air, the tire tends to lose grip with the ground, making steering, braking and more conducive to aquaplaning difficult.
Under these conditions the sides of the tire generate more heat and this constant heat can cause faster wear.
In addition, internal displacements can occur in the tire, increasing the risk of explosion. When a tire blows out it is usually caused by a combination of low pressure, overload and high temperature.
What are the problems generated by overcalibration?
The excess of air in the tires, both in passenger cars and in cargo vehicles, makes the contact area of the tire with the ground smaller, which means that when braking for example, the vehicle does not obey this command, the which can cause serious accidents.
The driver will also notice discomfort when driving, as the vehicle will feel “harder”.
Excessive calibration can end up damaging the tire chamber.
Both under-inflation and over-inflation reduce the lifespan of the tyres.
What is the correct tire pressure for the vehicle?
Each vehicle has a recommended pressure, including trucks. This information is in the manufacturer’s manual or in cars can also be found in the driver’s door column. In some cases it is also behind the filler cap. If you can’t find it in any of these places, a quick Google search can solve it, several brands make the manual available online.
It is worth remembering that even vehicles that use the same tire size may have different calibrations. This can vary depending on the weight of the vehicle (when it is full or empty), the road on which it will be traveling (paved or dirt road), in addition to the fact that the calibration of the rear tires can be
different from the front ones. The explanation is because the rear tire pressure is usually higher compared to the front tire.
All this taking into account the weight of what is transported.
What is the periodicity to carry out the calibration?
It is recommended to calibrate the four tires and the steppe weekly or at most every 15 days. For trucks it is also interesting to do whenever there is a forecast of a longer trip.
Do this procedure when the tires are cold, they are considered cold up to 2 km rotated and never change the pressure when the tires are hot, as the pressure changes due to heating.
Doing the correct tire calibration is a simple practice that can help with vehicle maintenance and driver safety, so be aware of this care.
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