How to Fill Tires with Air

How much air should I put in my tires? We get asked this question a lot at Bell And Bell GMC. If you want to learn how to fill tires with air, you’ve come to the right place. Keeping your tires properly inflated can help them last longer and improve fuel efficiency, ride quality, and overall handling, so the friendly service team at Bell And Bell GMC is here to help. We’ll make sure you understand how much air you need to add to your tires and why it’s important to know the recommended psi for your vehicle’s tires. Read on for our expert tips on keeping your tires in great condition!

Adding Air to Tires: Step-by-Step Guide

Filling your tires with air isn’t so scary when you have the right guide! Follow the steps below:

1. Find a local North Myrtle Beach gas station with an air pump and park your car close enough to use the air hose to reach all four tires. 
2. Remove the cap from the tire valve on the first tire. 
3. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the current car tire pressure. 
4. If the tire pressure is below the recommended level, attach the air hose to the valve and add air in short bursts. Be careful not to overinflate the tire. 
5. Check the tire pressure again with the gauge and add more air if necessary. 
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the other three tires. 
7. Once you’ve added air to all four tires, check the car tire pressure again to ensure they’re all at the recommended level. 
8. If your vehicle does not do it manually, read our guide on how to reset your tire pressure light when you’re finished.

It’s important to note that the air hose gauges at gas stations might not be entirely accurate. This is because tires heat up when driving on the Myrtle Beach roads, causing the inside to expand and the car tire pressure to increase. So if you accidentally overinflate your car tire, don’t panic! You can release some air by pressing the pin on the tire valve with the back of the air hose nozzle or using the small knob on the back of the rounded end of the tire gauge. 

Adjusting tire pressure can take some practice, so don’t get discouraged if you have to do it a few times!

How Much Air Should I Put in My Tires? 

Now that you know how to inflate your tires, you might wonder, “How much air should I put in my tires?” The answer is simple! You can find your vehicle’s recommended car tire pressure by checking the sticker inside the driver’s door. If you cannot locate the sticker, you can refer to the owner’s manual for all the necessary information about your car’s tire pressure. Normally, passenger cars have a suggested tire pressure of 32 to 35 psi (pounds per square inch) when they are cold. To get the most accurate reading, it is recommended to check the tire pressure after the car has cooled off. While inflating your tires, keep these pointers in mind:

• Do not inflate your tires to the PSI given on the actual tire. This number indicates the maximum amount of pressure the tire can hold, not its recommended PSI. 
• You can usually tell that your tires have overinflated when the ride quality is bouncy, and the car is harder to handle. 
• Underinflated tires can lead to faster tire wear and tear.

Schedule Tire Service at Bell And Bell GMC! 

If you suspect that your tires are underinflated or that your vehicle needs tire service, such as tire rotation or wheel alignment in Conway, reach out to our service center online or call us at 888-459-4749 to learn how we can help! In the meantime, we encourage you to browse our website and look at our service coupons and additional tips similar to “How to fill tires with air.” We look forward to serving you in Little River!