The changing of the seasons—in our current case, from spring to summer—is a great time to perform simple, preventative tasks that will keep your RAM running like a dream and your loved ones safe from harm.
Checking the tire pressure is one of the easiest ways to ensure top performance, and with summer coming it’s also one of the most important. After all, at peak road-trip season, who wants to be changing a flat while the rest of the world is (literally) passing you by?
Here are a few tips related to smart tire care and safety:
- Check the pressure before you begin a long drive, not at a short pit stop during the trip. Driving creates friction, friction makes heat, and heat will cause the air in your tires to expand. That’s fine—your tires are designed for that. However, the recommended PSI is set for when the tires are cool. The last thing you want to do is release air thinking your tires are over-inflated.
- Speaking of recommended PSI, be sure to inflate your tires according to factory recommendations rather than the maximum tire pressure given on the sidewall of your tire. Common sense dictates never exceeding the maximum. However, when it comes to the correct PSI for your truck, RAM always knows best. Check the owner’s manual for your truck’s recommended PSI.
- Remember that you don’t have four tires to check, you have five. This is to say, be sure to check the pressure on the spare as well, because there’s no point in swapping out one flat for another.
- While checking tire pressure, you might as well also check the tire tread. Keep your eyes peeled for uneven wear, as this could mean problems with alignment, a need for tire rotation or even over-inflation. If the tread is questionable, take your truck in to have it looked at.
Safe travels, everyone!
