Posted on 11/29/2024
When temperatures start to dip, drivers often notice a low tire pressure dashboard warning. It’s common to wonder why the cold weather seems to affect tire pressure so much and what, if anything, you should do about it. In truth, this phenomenon is more than a minor seasonal annoyance—it’s a natural response of the air inside your tires to colder temperatures. Understanding how cold weather impacts tire pressure is important for maintaining safe driving conditions and preserving tire health. Why Does Cold Weather Affect Tire Pressure Tire pressure is directly influenced by temperature. As temperatures drop, the air inside your tires compresses, causing a decrease in pressure. It’s all due to basic physics: cold temperatures slow down the molecules inside the tire, reducing volume. For every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature, tire pressure decreases by approximately 1 PSI (pound per square inch). This might not seem like much, but it can ... read more