Proper tire pressure to help Canadians at the pump amid rising gas prices: expert

Keeping an eye on your tire pressure could help you save money on gas, however many Canadians aren’t taking action.

The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada says having the right pressure could cause up to a three per cent increase in fuel efficiency.

Spokesperson Michael Majernick says after awhile, savings add up.

“In 2019, Canadians purchased 43 billion litres of fuel, and at just that 0.6 per cent gas mileage improvement from tire inflation, drivers would have avoided buying 258 million litres of gasoline and saved about $490 million — or they would have taken 125,000 vehicles of the roads.”

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Majernick says driving more fuel efficiently, including maintaining steady speeds and not braking too hard can also save you gas money.

He recommends checking your tire pressure once a month and looking at your owner’s manual so you know what your car needs.

A study done by the association has found just 29 per cent of British Columbians check their tires monthly, despite 96 per cent knowing the right pressure can save fuel.

“You’re supposed to check in monthly and 54 per cent did not know that tire pressure is supposed to be measured when the the tires are cold, which means the vehicles being stationary for a period of time. Because when you drive your tires heat up, and then you don’t get the right reading,” Majernick explained.

Majernick says in order to make your vehicle more fuel efficient, proper maintenance is a key factor, and its something drivers should be willing to make note of.

“Checking your tire pressure monthly takes five minutes of your time, it’s so simple. So why don’t we all maintain our tires at the proper tire pressures, get the most value out of them and be safe, have proper traction, to keep us all safe and saving money.”