STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES - EARTH SYSTEMS PROGRAM

Sustainable Choices

Maintain Proper Tire Pressure

Simplicity:
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Carbon Impact:
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Money Savings:
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Health Helper:
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Overview
Just like a wheelbarrow, a car is harder to move if the tire isn’t fully inflated. That’s because there is more tire surface area in contact with the road. The extra work required to push your car translates into additional fuel burnt by the engine. Of course, this means more emissions of air pollutants, more climate-changing greenhouse gases, and more money out of your bank account. Monitor your tire pressure and boost your mileage.

Tips & Tricks
Learn the proper pressure for your tires. Consult your car manual to learn the optimum air pressure and do your best to keep your tires filled.

Check your tires at least once a month. You can generally check your tire pressure at the gas station, or you can buy a small tire pressure gauge to keep in your car. Keep in mind that tires lose an average of 1-2 pounds per square inch (psi) every month.

Fill up on air at the gas station. Most gas stations offer air hoses to customers free of charge. Sometimes you will need to ask inside for the machine to be activated.

Web & Print Resources
Tire care:
www.carcare.org

Fuel-efficient driving tips:
www.fueleconomy.gov
www.edmunds.com
www.shell.com
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/consumer_tips/

Personal Story
Share your story with the Sustainable Choices Team! If you have a comment or a success story about your sustainable strategies that you would like to share, please send a note to sustainablechoices@stanford.edu.

Fun Facts

You can improve your gas mileage by 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.

Tires lose an average of 1–2 pounds per square inch (psi) every month.