How to Check Car Tire Pressure without a Gauge?

One of the major issues that car guys quite often face. Yes, we are talking about confirming whether or not the car tires are low on air pressure. Well, today, we are going to discuss how to check tire pressure without a gauge.

Is It Important To Check The Car Tire Pressure In The First Place?

It depends upon the type of road trip you are planning to take in the first place.

For example, if you are thinking about a road trip where most of your time will be spent on highways, it is better to check the tire pressure. At that speed limit, any kind of mistake can onset a serious accident.

But if the road trip involves cruising through the streets at an average speed, it is okay to drive if you think it is okay not to check the tire pressure.

What If you Have No Gauge?

From manual to automatic transmission cars manufactured in the last decade, the pressure gauge is usually included with the spare tire kit. The main function of a pressure gauge is to get the exact reading of the tire pressure so that it can be leveled back at a safe level.

But what if you don't have access to a pressure gauge at the moment? Well, if you have a modern car, then chances are that the car has a TPMS, so there is no need for a pressure gauge in the first place.

But if your car doesn't have a TPMS and you are missing a pressure gauge, here are some tricks that you should try,

• Feel the Wheels

  Probably the oldest trick in the book. Back in the day, no pressure gauges were packed with the spare tire kit. So, the only way to check if the tire pressure wasn't what it should be was to feel the tires manually.

  You know, pressing the tires through your foot and hand. If one tire presses a little further down than the rest, that tire is probably the one having low tire pressure.

• Visual confirmation to check tire pressure without a gauge

  But we get it, and not everyone will press the tires just to check if the air pressure is accurate. So, the other best possible way is to check for visual proof. Just see if there is a tire that seems flatter than the rest.

  For the overinflation issue, the same trick can be repeated. All you need to identify is a side of the car that is more elevated than the rest. This indicates that the tire on that side has more than average air than the rest, which has caused the uneven elevation.

• Loading some Weight

  So, you are ready to go on a road trip, but you aren't sure if the air pressure in the tires is even. Well, the best thing to do in this condition is to check the tire pressure. Anyone will go with this option first. But what if you are in a hurry or there is no service/gas station nearby?

  You can check the tire pressure by weighing the car in such a situation. If the car sinks more than usual with some weight put on the car, you need to get the tire pressure checked asap.

• Driving Experience

  Professional and experienced drivers can feel without any gauge/indicator that the car tire pressure is uneven. This isn't something you can learn overnight but more like something that comes naturally after experiences on the road. So, this way of checking is quite limited.

  But is it possible? Can you tell the car tire air pressure is uneven just because you can feel the difference in the drive? Yes, it is possible, as the tire pressure impacts the over-car steering control and ability to attain certain speeds.

• Record brake time

  No, we aren't asking you to put your foot on the paddle and then apply brakes suddenly to record the brake time. Relax, guys, we aren't in Fast & Furious, where doing something like this will automatically turn into a cool car stunt, and no personnel will be harmed.

  When the car tire pressure is affected, you can tell that something isn’t right with the brake mechanism of the car. Even if you apply brakes on time, you will feel the tires skipping through before coming to a stop. This can even prove to be quite serious when driving at high speeds.

Is It even Possible To Check Tire Pressure Without A Gauge Precisely?

Well, if you are thinking about getting exact numerical readings regarding the car tire pressure without a gauge, then no, it isn't possible. All methods of checking car tire pressure other than a gauge don't involve measuring anything. They have more like a trial-and-error model of working.

But you can check the tire pressure just to ensure that you either need to visit a service station or not. However, if you are looking for more surety or, you know, trying to get the exact readings, it is better to use a pressure gauge.

What If The Tires Are Overinflated?

Well, the case of overinflation of tires is pretty rare. You just won’t leave an overinflated tire unnoticed. Why? It has to do something with the balance of the car itself. If one of the car tires is overinflated, the car will be up elevated from that side.

But if the car tires are overinflated, traveling on a highway for longer periods can also be quite dangerous. As the tire moves, the air within the tire will start to expand, and if the air expands beyond a certain limit, the tire can even burst.

The Thing You Should Do As Soon As Possible.

If you think that your car tires have uneven air pressure, it is better to get the air pressure checked through a nearby service station. Not doing so can prove to be a major cause of an accident that can seriously impact many human lives.

Final Note

With this, we hope you now have a detailed set of tricks to check car tire pressure without a pressure gauge. If there is still something that you think we haven't elaborated on enough, tell us right here.