What is a tire gauge and how do you use it? for a car ?

Question

What is the main use of a tire gauge?

How do you know if there is too much, or not enough air in the car's tires?

Answer 1

A tire gauge measures the air pressure. Tire pressure is important for fuel economy and safety. The recommended pressures are usually in the owner's manual or printed on a door edge or in the glove compartment.  The PSI number printed on the tires is a maximum limit, not a recommended pressure.

Answer 2

I assume you are referring to the air pressure in your tires instead of some other gauge that measures the tread wear, wall flex etc.  A gauge for checking air pressure in tires is an instrument that requires so much air pressure to push out a slide that has the pressure marked on it.  There are also gauges that have dials on them or some that just click off while you are putting air in the tire at the number of punds you have set it for.  All of them let you know how much air in pounds per square inch you have in the tire.  How much air do you put in the tire?  The recommended air pressure for the tire is usually marked on the sidewall of the tire.  You often loose gas milage if the proper tire pressure isn't kept in the tires.  Low tire pressure can also make the automobile unstable and hard to handle.  How do you use it.  Locate the valve stem sticking out of tire rim.  They often have a cap on them to keep the dirt out.  Unscrew the cap and you will see a round hole with a little plunger in the center.  Take the tire air pressure gauge and stick it over the top of the valve stem in a straight manner so air isn't escaping.  When you get a good connection with no air escaping from the connection between the valve stem and the tire gauge, you can then remove the tire air pressure gauge and read it.  Most of them will hold the reading you got till you reset them.

Answer 3

It measures the air pressure in the tires in PSI (pounds per square inch).  An average tire should be around 32 PSI.  Over inflation can cause tire wear, under inflation can cause wear and decrease gas mileage.   The correct inflation is printed on the side of the tire.   They say most tires are underinflated.  You should check or have a gas station check the PSI once a month or so.  Most tire store will do it for free.  Its hard to find gas stations that do anything but sell gas and chips anymore.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

The recommeded air pressure for your tires is NOT on the side of the tire. That is the MAXIMUM pressure you should never exceed for that tire.

The correct air pressure for the tires on your car is listed in two places: 1) in your owners manual, and 2) on a sticker on the drivers side door frame or door post.