If the title to this blog now has you singing the song, well, there are worse songs to get stuck in your head. In this case, though, the title refers to tires - tire pressure.
Many trucks now have a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and that’s a great way to know what your tires are doing from the comfort of the driver’s seat. A TPMS will usually give tire pressures as well as tire temps. This is good info to have to help get the most from those costly tires, but at some point, you will need to add a little air pressure to them. A TPMS will show the pressures but it’s up to the driver/owner of the vehicle to add air when needed.
How do you add air to your tires? Grab a tire gauge, check the pressure, get the air hose and add air until you think it might be enough, and then recheck with a tire gauge. If it’s not enough, add more and if it’s too much, let a little out and then settle for close enough.
The old standard slider tire gauge can give you good readings, but it is just another step in the process. Gauge. Air. Gauge. Air.
A digital tire inflator with a gauge will give you more accurate readings and can save you time when checking and adding air pressure to your tires. One device, connected to the air hose, can give tire pressure readings, add or remove air pressure and give instant readings of tire pressures while you add air, not after.
There are many brands to choose from, but a digital tire gauge/inflator can give you precise readings during inflation which can save you time.
Proper tire pressures can extend the life of your tires. Checking and maintaining tire pressures is a small way to help your bottom line in a big way. Tires are expensive. Digital tire gauge/inflators are not.
Every truck with a running air compressor should have an air hose and a place to connect it. Add to that a digital tire gauge/inflator and you can properly maintain your tires without the need for a shop air hose.