Maintaining properly inflated tires is vital in preventing premature tire wear and keeping you safe on the road. Checking your tire pressure and refilling the air only takes a few minutes and goes a long way in prolonging tire life. If you don’t have a portable air compressor, you can check and inflate your tires at a gas station. Here’s how to use a gas station air pump:
- Go to the gas station and locate the air compressor
- Park your car close to the pump
- Check your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure
- Pay for the usage of the air pump
- Select the spout to use
- Set the PSI rating on the air pump
- Remove the tire valve cap
- Start inflating your tires
- Check the other tires
- Return the spout
If you have never inflated a tire at a gas station, read on. This article will walk you through each step, so you can enjoy the benefits of keeping your tires well inflated.
Contents
1. Go to the Gas Station and Locate the Air Compressor
You should make it a habit to check your tire pressure once every two to four weeks or before going on a long drive. Some cars have a tire pressure monitoring system that will alert you if your tires are running low.
A car with underinflated tires will also show the following symptoms:
- Steering becomes heavier and difficult to control.
- Reduced braking performance.
- You can hear strange noises like a flapping sound or the wheel coming into contact with the road.
However, even if your car drives normally, you should still go to a gas station to check and inflate your tires regularly. Most gas stations should have an air pump, but you can use Yelp to help locate the nearest one.
Some gas stations charge a small fee to use their tire inflating facilities. Nonetheless, you can use freeairpump.com to see which ones allow you to use the air pump at no cost.
The air compressor is located away from the gas pumps with a sign that says “Air,” “Free Air,” or “Air and Water”. It is usually situated on the left or right side of the gas station near the entrance or exit.
2. Park Your Car Close to the Pump
Once you’ve located the air compressor, park your car next to it. If you plan to inflate all four wheels, make sure your vehicle is close enough for the hose to reach all of them. Otherwise, park so that the most deflated wheel is closest to the air pump.
Leave about a foot of space between the car and the air pump so you can quickly move around the car and avoid running over the hose. The idea is to park so that you don’t have to move the car as you inflate each tire. Besides, you need to keep in mind that some gas stations charge by the minute.
You can inflate your car’s tires while the engine is running, but make sure that the transmission is in Park and the parking brake is engaged. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to keep your doors locked while inflating your tires.
3. Check Your Vehicle’s Recommended Tire Pressure
Since some gas stations charge by the minute for using their air pump, it’s best to know your car’s recommended tire pressure beforehand to avoid wasting time. You will find your car’s recommended tire pressure on a label placed on the door post of the driver’s side or in the glovebox.
Most cars have a recommended tire pressure of between 32 to 35 psi, but it’s best to use the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. Please note that the recommended pressure will vary based on the tire size, your car’s load, and your average speed. The front and rear tires may also have different recommended tire pressures due to the vehicle’s weight distribution.
If you cannot locate your vehicle’s tire pressure label, try looking for the information in your owner’s manual.
It’s best to check your tire pressure when you haven’t driven the car for long. As tires roll on the road, their temperature and air pressure significantly increase. Also, checking your tire pressure while the tires are cold gives you the most accurate reading.
4. Pay for Usage of the Air Pump
If the gas station you’re at charges a fee for using the air pump, pay for the service first.
Some air pumps work using quarters, while others may require you to use a credit card. In any case, you can seek help from a service attendant, who may need to turn the machine on manually.
The cost of using an air pump varies, as some gas stations charge per minute while others have a fixed rate. Expect to pay around 50 to 75 cents per minute.
5. Select the Spout To Use
Some air pumps have more than one spout. Check which spout works and use the same one for all your tires to maintain consistency.
Check if the air pump is on in case no air is released from either spout. Some air pumps have a lever or a faucet that needs to be moved to release air.
6. Set the PSI Rating on the Air Pump
Before placing the spout on the tire valve, make sure to enter the correct tire pressure on the air pump. Most air pumps have a digital read-out, and you can select your desired setting with buttons that increase or decrease the PSI rating.
If your tires are severely deflated or almost flat, some air pumps have a separate button you need to press to let the air out more rapidly.
Older air pumps have a PSI gauge in the form of an analog dial with an arrow indicating the tire pressure. You can select your desired tire pressure rating by turning a knob on the side of the dial.
7. Remove the Tire Valve Cap
Once you’ve selected the proper tire pressure for your vehicle, remove your tire’s valve cover. Turn the valve cap counterclockwise to loosen it and clockwise to tighten it.
Keep the valve cover near you and make sure it doesn’t roll to ensure it doesn’t get lost. Valve caps do not keep the air in the tires, but they still serve an essential function.
Without a valve cap, there will be nothing to protect your tire valve from road elements like stones, mud, and debris. The core of the valve stem can easily get damaged if it comes into contact with such elements, making it very difficult to inflate your tires.
8. Start Inflating Your Tires
Start inflating your tires by placing the spout of the air hose on the valve stem. Some force may be required to put the spout securely in place.
Center the core (or the pin) and ensure that the spout’s hole covers the entire valve stem. The spout and valve stem are not correctly aligned if you hear a loud hissing sound. If this happens, move the spout around and use some force to pin it over the edge of the valve stem.
Air pumps with a digital display will show your car’s tire pressure once the spout is securely fastened around the valve stem. The reading should increase as you inflate your tires and a beeping sound will indicate once your tires are filled with the tire pressure you selected.
In some cases, the tire pressure reading may exceed what you selected. Keep the spout in place until you hear the beep from the air pump. The air pump will automatically release air until the tire pressure is right.
If the air pump is older and uses an analog dial, the gauge’s needle will stay on your desired tire pressure. As you fill your tires with air, you should hear a bell ring every few seconds. Once the ringing stops, your tires will have enough air in them.
It helps to have your tire pressure gauge, so you can check your tire pressure at home while they are still cold. You can also use the pressure gauge to double-check your tire pressure at the gas station.
The AstroAI Tire Pressure Gauge is a little over five inches long, so you can conveniently keep it inside your glovebox. It also has a backlit digital display, making it extremely easy to get an accurate readout of your tire pressure.
Once the tire is correctly inflated, remove the spout and replace the valve stem cap.
9. Check the Other Tires
You can simply repeat steps 6 to 8 for the other tires. Remember, the tire pressure for the front and rear tires may vary, so you may have to re-enter your desired tire pressure rating before inflating the next tire.
To save time, inflate the front tires first and then the rear tires in succession, so you only have to reset the tire pressure once.
10. Return the Spout
After inflating all your tires, roll up the hose and return the spout to its proper place. Returning the spout where you found it is a courtesy to the following user. Furthermore, doing so will also prevent you from damaging the hose or spout by rolling the car over it.
Final Thoughts
The time and effort required to keep your tires inflated is a small price to pay for all the benefits you get from it. Aside from lessening your tire’s tread wear and increasing fuel mileage, maintaining the proper tire pressure helps keep you safe on the road.