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Importance of checking tire pressure regularly!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by cary1952, Sep 20, 2013.

  1. cary1952

    cary1952 Member

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    I am guilty. Because I have a new car, I havent checked pressures in about 6 weeks. Tires were set 6 weeks ago at 40/38. Today I had them checked and they were at 35/33. I was shocked! That is a 5 pound drop in about 6 weeks. Temperatures were a bit cooler this morning but I didn't realize how much temperature can affect pressure and probably how tires lose a pound or 2 pressure just as time goes by, say in a month or so. Moral of story is: check your tire pressure regularly, especially this time of year as temperatures drop. I'm sure I wasted a gallon of gas or more over the last couple of weeks. I certainly am going to check it more often.
     
    #1 cary1952, Sep 20, 2013
  2. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    So Cary are you the Girl or the Boy in the picture?
     
    #2 JMD, Sep 21, 2013
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Does it matter JMD? lol

    The tyre pressures can change with significant changes in outside temperature. Always good to get into a habit of checking them fortnightly at least.
     
    #3 GrumpyCabbie, Sep 21, 2013
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  4. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Grumpy it's a guy since it said member male
     
    #4 JMD, Sep 21, 2013
  5. chandler

    chandler New Member

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    The rule of thumb is for every 10° Fahrenheit change in air temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change by about 1 psi (up with higher temperatures and down with lower).
     
    #5 chandler, Sep 21, 2013
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  6. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    If you re-set the TPM at 40, you should get a warning if they drop to 35 or 34.
     
    #6 rdgrimes, Sep 21, 2013
  7. cary1952

    cary1952 Member

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    I suppose you have to go to a toyota dealer to do this and pay them $50-100 for the reset?
     
    #7 cary1952, Sep 21, 2013
  8. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Its in the manual, button is under the dash left of the wheel. Push and hold till you get flashing indicator on the dash.
    You could also pump them up to 42-43, then reset, then lower to 40, then it will warn you sooner.
     
    #8 rdgrimes, Sep 21, 2013
  9. N2MPG

    N2MPG Junior Member

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    That is genius right there..
     
    #9 N2MPG, Sep 21, 2013
  10. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    FYI
    Tire pressue is sensitive to atomospheric temperature. Example if you have a fall weather cold front move thru your local area which is happen here you will realize some tire pressure loss. I am not fan of early TPMS systems the tire valve insert monitor is a hassle. I find for me far more easy to just rotate tires and routinely check my tire pressures......
     
    #10 NortTexSalv04Prius, Sep 21, 2013
  11. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    Nitrogen mix has been claimed to better maintain tire pressure than just shop air pressure...........
     
    #11 NortTexSalv04Prius, Sep 21, 2013
  12. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    All "air" is 80% nitrogen. ;)
     
    #12 rdgrimes, Sep 21, 2013
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