Why you should never ignore your car tire pressure warning light

 No one likes to see those warning lights illuminate in their dashboard. What could possibly be wrong, how long will it take to fix, and how much is it going to cost you? We get it, but we also need to emphasize that you should never ignore them. Acting like they haven't turned on can lead to bigger and costlier issues down the road and leave you in a much worse situation than what you started in. Toyota of North Charlotte is here to discuss one warning light in particular today - the tire pressure warning light. 

What does it mean when your tire pressure light illuminates? 

When this warning light turns on, it means that one (or more) of your tires is underinflated and not at the correct PSI for maximum performance and safety. And while that may not seem like a big deal - after all, it's not flat, right? - it can actually give you quite a bit of trouble if you don't address the issue at hand. If you ignore your tire pressure warning light, you could face problems like: 

• Your car tires will start to wear unevenly. If your tire(s) is underinflated, more of it is touching the ground (it has more surface area because the PSI is too low). This causes more wear and tear on more of the tire and in turn, makes the car tire wear out more quickly. On top of that, when one tire is off balance it can throw everything out of whack. This means your other tires can also experience uneven wear, which means you'll have to replace all of them sooner (and that's not cheap). 
• Your fuel efficiency will drop, costing you more money. Another side effect of your car tire pressure being too low is that your fuel efficiency suffers. When your car tires aren't at the right PSI, your fuel economy will take a nosedive. This means you'll be shelling out more often at the gas pump until you remedy the issue. 
• You'll be more prone to a flat tire or worse - a blowout. When your car tires are underinflated, it also increases your risk of a flat tire or blowout. While a flat tire may seem like an annoying inconvenience (and it is, trust us), and tire blowout can be dangerous. If you're driving at high speeds and experience a blowout, then you could lose control of your vehicle and end up in a collision. 

Why risk it? Getting your car tires back to the right PSI is fast and easy - all you have to do is pull up to the gas station and fill them up using the air hose. And if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, Toyota of N Charlotte can always help - our techs can get your tires back to the right PSI in no time and get you back on the road. 

Get your car tires back into the best shape with Toyota of North Charlotte 

Schedule car tire service with us today! Toyota of N Charlotte's service center is located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville at 13429 Statesville Road. You can also call ahead of time to schedule your appointment at (704) 659-2025 or schedule online.