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Written by Henry & Lisa Carter
California Air Resources Board (CARB) has enacted an effective date of September 1, 2010, for the adoption of Section 95550 in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.
This is a regulation to REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES OPERATING WITH UNDER INFLATED TIRES.
Phew! What does this mean? Automotive service providers are required to check and inflate each vehicle’s tires to the recommended tire pressure rating at the time of performing any automotive maintenance or repair service, as well as indicating on the vehicle service invoice that a tire inflation service was completed.
A customer may decline the check and inflate service if the customer affirms one of the following: (A). S/he has performed (or had) a tire pressure check and inflate service within the last 30 days. Or (B) S/he will perform (or have) a tire pressure check and inflate service within the next 7 days.
Before the Regulation and Beyond: Your tires support the weight of your vehicle, right? Well they don't! It's the air pressure inside them that actually supports the weight. Maintaining sufficient air pressure is required if your tires are to provide all of the handling, traction and durability of which they are capable.
However, you can't set tire pressure...and then forget about it! Tire pressure has to be checked periodically to assure that the influences of time, changes in ambient temperatures or a small tread puncture have not caused it to change.
For the Analytical: Check and adjust the pressures first thing in the morning. Set them according to the vehicle manufacturer's cold tire pressure(s) recommended on the vehicle's tire sticker found on the driver’s side door jam or in its owner's manual. This must be done before rising ambient temperatures, the sun's radiant heat or even driving short distances which temporarily warms the tires.
Road Trip Tip: Heat generated while being driven extensively (or at sustained speeds greater than 45 mph). Set 6 psi above vehicle manufacturer's cold inflation recommendations.
Since air is a gas, it expands when heated and contracts when cooled. 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).
Mention this article and receive your California Tire Pressure Regulation Compliance for FREE!
