Question for tire experts (not really BMW or M3 related)

py0413 · 02-07-2013, 11:50 AM

Good morning folks,

I had a conversation with a friend last night after dinner regarding to tire pressure issue because I brought up that about driving my car out of its winter storage and figured the tire pressure was a bit too high on almost 4 corners. This was how I fix it, I went to a gas station with air pump, loose air of a tire then inflate it to the suggested tire pressure as instructed in the owner's manual. I repeated the same procedures for all 4 corners. The tire pressure now seems okay on all of them.

My friend, however, thought it was a mistake because I should have waited for the car and tires to cool down completely before I proceed to adjust the tire pressure. He ran a quick search on his phone and he was right that most sources indicate only doing so when the car is cold or sitting overnight.

How can I have done the pressure adjustment if I don't have a proper tool to use at home? Was the way I corrected mine be okay?

Would appreciate your inputs and suggestions.

PY

Transfer · 02-07-2013, 12:20 PM

You really should get a good tire pressure gauge and check at home occasionally but overall I don't think you did anything wrong. It depends on the ambient air temp and how far away your gas station was. You generally would want to check and adjust tire pressures on cold tires. Just follow up with pressure checks when cold.

HighandDry · 02-07-2013, 07:05 PM

As suggested above, get a good tire gauge. I also have a pump that I bought at Sears for 30 bucks and adjust the pressure accordingly. From summer to winter, the tire pressure will change 5-10 lbs, so significant.

py0413 · 02-07-2013, 10:10 PM

Thanks fellows,

I do have a digital gauge which I bought last summer, but the pump I had at home is not so great to use. I usually go to gas station near by to pump up my tires, but those guys are now asking $0.50 - $1.00 per use and it's also timed (2-3 mins per use). I will look for a good pump then.

1MOREMOD · 02-07-2013, 10:50 PM

the only ill that will come of this is that they end up a little on the low side because the are already warm. if you are worried about it go a few pounds up and when the car has sat overnight at home adjust them by letting some out to make them even at a cold setting.

Rk-d · 02-07-2013, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by py0413

Good morning folks,

I had a conversation with a friend last night after dinner regarding to tire pressure issue because I brought up that about driving my car out of its winter storage and figured the tire pressure was a bit too high on almost 4 corners. This was how I fix it, I went to a gas station with air pump, loose air of a tire then inflate it to the suggested tire pressure as instructed in the owner's manual. I repeated the same procedures for all 4 corners. The tire pressure now seems okay on all of them.

My friend, however, thought it was a mistake because I should have waited for the car and tires to cool down completely before I proceed to adjust the tire pressure. He ran a quick search on his phone and he was right that most sources indicate only doing so when the car is cold or sitting overnight.

How can I have done the pressure adjustment if I don't have a proper tool to use at home? Was the way I corrected mine be okay?

Would appreciate your inputs and suggestions.

PY

Just buy an air compressor to use at home - check and fill the tires in the morning. They are cheap and there are a million uses for them - I've never regretted getting one.

Vic311 · 02-07-2013, 11:23 PM

A decent tire gauge from any auto store will do the trick..drive the car after its sat overnight..right to an air pump..you should adjust pressure when the tires are cold.

py0413 · 02-08-2013, 01:36 AM

Thanks for the replies again guys, this truly is one of the best online community.

I am in the middle of buying/selling old/new home process, getting a suitable home use air compressor is one of the things I will definitely do once we are all settled done. There are some plans for building a garage to my preference, but still need to find out how much the cost really will be.

I am using the little inflator that came with my 08 M3 (sold) and I found that device heats up so quickly that I am a bit hesitate to use it after running a few minutes.

bobblehead · 02-08-2013, 06:59 AM

^ just go to Cdn Tire and buy a portable air compressor when it goes on sale. $10 or so will get you a decent one.

positiveions · 02-08-2013, 09:25 AM

Ideally, tires must be cold to check the pressure.

02-07-2013, 11:50 AM	#1
py0413 Major 110 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BC iTrader: (2)	Question for tire experts (not really BMW or M3 related) Good morning folks, I had a conversation with a friend last night after dinner regarding to tire pressure issue because I brought up that about driving my car out of its winter storage and figured the tire pressure was a bit too high on almost 4 corners. This was how I fix it, I went to a gas station with air pump, loose air of a tire then inflate it to the suggested tire pressure as instructed in the owner's manual. I repeated the same procedures for all 4 corners. The tire pressure now seems okay on all of them. My friend, however, thought it was a mistake because I should have waited for the car and tires to cool down completely before I proceed to adjust the tire pressure. He ran a quick search on his phone and he was right that most sources indicate only doing so when the car is cold or sitting overnight. How can I have done the pressure adjustment if I don't have a proper tool to use at home? Was the way I corrected mine be okay? Would appreciate your inputs and suggestions. PY __________________ Must stop eating..............
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02-07-2013, 12:20 PM	#2
Transfer Major General 5253 Rep 5,874 Posts Drives: Bronco Wildtrak, Tesla MYP Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Issaquah, WA iTrader: (1)	You really should get a good tire pressure gauge and check at home occasionally but overall I don't think you did anything wrong. It depends on the ambient air temp and how far away your gas station was. You generally would want to check and adjust tire pressures on cold tires. Just follow up with pressure checks when cold.
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02-07-2013, 07:05 PM	#3
HighandDry Private First Class 7 Rep 108 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	As suggested above, get a good tire gauge. I also have a pump that I bought at Sears for 30 bucks and adjust the pressure accordingly. From summer to winter, the tire pressure will change 5-10 lbs, so significant.
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02-07-2013, 10:10 PM	#4
py0413 Major 110 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BC iTrader: (2)	Thanks fellows, I do have a digital gauge which I bought last summer, but the pump I had at home is not so great to use. I usually go to gas station near by to pump up my tires, but those guys are now asking $0.50 - $1.00 per use and it's also timed (2-3 mins per use). I will look for a good pump then. __________________ Must stop eating..............
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02-07-2013, 10:50 PM	#5
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	the only ill that will come of this is that they end up a little on the low side because the are already warm. if you are worried about it go a few pounds up and when the car has sat overnight at home adjust them by letting some out to make them even at a cold setting. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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02-07-2013, 11:23 PM	#7
Vic311 Banned 42 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	A decent tire gauge from any auto store will do the trick..drive the car after its sat overnight..right to an air pump..you should adjust pressure when the tires are cold.
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02-08-2013, 01:36 AM	#8
py0413 Major 110 Rep 1,291 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: BC iTrader: (2)	Thanks for the replies again guys, this truly is one of the best online community. I am in the middle of buying/selling old/new home process, getting a suitable home use air compressor is one of the things I will definitely do once we are all settled done. There are some plans for building a garage to my preference, but still need to find out how much the cost really will be. I am using the little inflator that came with my 08 M3 (sold) and I found that device heats up so quickly that I am a bit hesitate to use it after running a few minutes. __________________ Must stop eating..............
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02-08-2013, 06:59 AM	#9
bobblehead Brigadier General 256 Rep 4,721 Posts Drives: warp speed Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, On iTrader: (0)	^ just go to Cdn Tire and buy a portable air compressor when it goes on sale. $10 or so will get you a decent one.
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02-08-2013, 09:25 AM	#10
positiveions Lieutenant General 961 Rep 11,722 Posts Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upland, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2016 VW Golf Sports ... [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 1990 BMW 325is [0.00]	Ideally, tires must be cold to check the pressure.
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