My 2001 Prism specifies 30 PSI in the tires. At what temperature is this checked. Wouldn't it be different at 0=B0 F or at 32=B0F or
70=B0F?---MIKE---
Of course the pressure changes as you would expect from Charles' Law. The 30# tire might be about 26# at 0=B0. Car companies expect you to check the pressure at whatever temperature you are at and adjust it accordingly. Most people don't check often enough.
"Cold pressure" refers to the typical seasonal temperature. If it's winter and the average temp is 32F, then 32F is the "cold pressure temperature". If it summer time, then than 80F might be the "cold pressure temperature". One has to adjust the amount of air in the tires as the seasons change. Add air in the winter and possibly bleeding off air as summer approaches.
I believe "cold pressure" refers to the tire being cold. When a tire is driven on it warms up, so the pressure needs to checked before the tire is driven on more then a few miles regardless of the outside air temperature.
Al
Thank you for your response. I think you missed the intent of the question. What I wanted to know is at what cold temperature to set the
30 PSI. If I set it at 30 PSI today at 40=B0F, then if tomorrow was 10=B0F the pressure would read lower (perhaps 25 PSI ?). Where I live the temperature could vary from 40=B0 one day to -10=B0 the next. When should I check it?---MIKE---
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