Have you checked your tire pressure lately?

We’re ashamed to admit this, but this posting is clearly a case of “Do as we say—Not as we do.” After all, we know that we should regularly check our tires to make sure they are properly maintained, have sufficient tread and have the correct amount of pressure.

And we know that’s particularly important during the summer months. As Nicole Nason, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently warned consumers, “Checking tires is particularly critical during the summer when roads are hot and families are putting a lot of miles on their cars with their vacation plans. … Overloaded vehicles, under-inflated tires, and hot weather can all combine to possibly turn a family vacation into a horrific nightmare.”

But Nason notes that few people take the time to check the condition of their tires, or whether the tire is properly inflated. A tire industry survey this year found 85 percent of drivers fail to properly check tire pressure. NHTSA estimates that crashes associated with tire problems take approximately 660 lives each year and injure 33,000 people. And recent NHTSA research shows that hot weather can affect the tire aging process, especially in warm climate states.

In addition to safety concerns, smart drivers keep their tires properly inflated to get better mileage.  Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by about 3.3 percent. Less air means more force to get the tire rolling, causing increased fuel consumption and air pollution.

Don’t go by the maximum inflation pressure specified on the tire, rather use the inflation pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer found typically on the driver’s door jamb of your car.  Also, check the inflation pressure after the tires have sat for three hours or more. Warm tires will naturally have an elevated pressure. 

That advice reminded us we haven’t checked our tires recently. We did and what we found was humbling: One car had one under-inflated tire by 6 pounds-per-square inch (psi). But two were over-inflated by 3 psi. In another vehicle, three tires were under-inflated by 3 psi; one was over-inflated by the same amount.

So take our advice and check your tires before you drive any further. For proper care of your tires and procedures to check the air pressure, visit www.safercar.gov. For more information on tires, including Ratings, from Consumer Reports visit our tire hub.