Symptom: Wear in Center

• Accelerated center tread wear: the center of the tire bears disproportionate load, wearing faster than the edges.

• Reduced ride comfort: the tire is stiffer and transmits more road imperfections to the cabin.

• Increased road hazard vulnerability: an overinflated tire has less ability to absorb impacts, making it more susceptible to damage from potholes and debris.

• Reduced traction: the smaller, stiffer contact patch grips the road less effectively in both wet and dry conditions.

• Brake performance reduction: less contact area means less friction for stopping.

No. The maximum pressure on the sidewall is the highest pressure the tire can safely contain—it is not the recommended operating pressure for your vehicle. Always use the pressure specified on the vehicle placard inside the driver's door jamb. The vehicle manufacturer has tested and optimized that pressure for your vehicle's weight, suspension, and handling characteristics. Inflating to the sidewall maximum is overinflation for most vehicles and will cause the problems described above.

It's a common myth that higher pressure means better fuel economy—and it's only partially true. Yes, a slightly higher pressure reduces rolling resistance marginally. But overinflation reduces the contact patch, which reduces grip and safety more than it improves efficiency. The correct approach for fuel economy is to maintain the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure exactly—this is already optimized for the best balance of efficiency, safety, and comfort. Going beyond it produces diminishing economic returns at meaningful safety cost.

It's straightforward: use a tire pressure gauge to check the current pressure, then use the gauge's release valve (or press the valve stem core with a small tool) to let small amounts of air out in short bursts. Recheck the pressure frequently until it matches the vehicle placard recommendation. Always check when the tires are cold (not driven in the last 3 hours or driven less than 5 km at low speed) for the most accurate reading. If you accidentally let out too much air, simply inflate back up to spec.

Yes. Tire pressure increases as temperature rises—roughly 1 psi per 6°C increase. This means a tire inflated to the correct pressure on a cool morning can become overinflated on a hot afternoon or after sustained highway driving. This is normal and expected; you should never release air from a warm tire because it will be underinflated once it cools. Check pressure cold and allow for this natural increase. The risk of overinflation from temperature is generally less dangerous than underinflation, but tires already at or near the maximum pressure before a hot drive can experience increased road hazard vulnerability.