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By: Donnamy Steele

As the outside temperature decreases, so does tire pressure. Greg Caton of Andalusia Tire explained that the change in temperature can contribute to the low-pressure light in your vehicle.

“The change is of course because of the cooler air. The cooler it is the lower the tire is, but as it heats up when you drive it increases,” Caton said.

Caton said that fluctuating tire pressure is normal around this time of year. “Most of the vehicles that have the TPMS sensors in them are around 5 pounds, so if they fluctuate the low pressure light will come on,” Caton said. “If the tire pressure drops 5 pounds below that, it comes on. It’s a continuous cycle this time of year. Usually on cool mornings, we’ll have people pull in and say they’re lights are on.”

Caton said the best way to fix the issue is to maintain your tire pressure.

“Just come by and put air in your tires,” Caton said. “It just generally means you’re low to begin with, but in the cool mornings the tires contract and once you drive and it heats up it will go off.”

Driving with inadequate tire pressure for long periods of time can cause damage to tires, Caton said.

“Well they can wear prematurely and that’s the main reason,” Caton said. “It also affects your fuel mileage. Correctly inflated tires will get the best fuel mileage.”