Tire pressure is a major issue and often the cause of accidents on the roads. With too much or too little air in the wheels, your car can start drifting, jumping or worse. We’ll get into this more later.
You can avoid these issues and any others that arise, keep your tire pressure under control and always ensure you’re well under the max PSI. So what is the recommended tire pressure for 44 PSI max tires? Let’s find out.
As we delve into the recommended tire pressure for 44 PSI max, we’ll also look at:
- Where to find your recommended tire pressure.
- Avoiding the max: how low is too low?
- What happens when pressure is incorrect?
- Checking your tire pressure: best practices.
- Checking tire pressure: the basics.
44 PSI Max Recommended Pressure
It’s best to keep your tires at around 90 percent of the max. So what is the recommended tire pressure for 44 PSI max? That’s a few notches below the max at 39.6 PSI.
This is subjective, though. Depending on the weight of your vehicle, this may still be too high. Go for a drive and see if the tires feel stiff in use or a little bumpy. Then you can drop your tire pressure another notch or two.
However, even when your ride feels fine at the recommended tire pressure, there are times when you may have to make adjustments.
When to Change It Up
There are two situations that can influence your tire pressure, or how your vehicle works with your usual pressure. Before embarking on journeys in the following situations, consider checking and changing your tire pressure accordingly.
With Heavier Loads
As you increase the size of your load, you place more pressure on your tires. Take them up a notch or two, but not too close to max.
On Hot Days
Your wheels are hot enough as they are, thanks to the friction between them and the road. Friction makes things hotter!
The problem is, heat creates excess pressure, and may make the pressure in your tires rise.
If you drive somewhere on a hot day, check your tire pressure before you drive home. Lower your tire pressure as needed.
Where to Find Your Recommended PSI
The PSI your manufacturer recommends may be different from our suggestions if your vehicle has special requirements.
Your vehicle will likely have a sticker on one of the inside doors. Here you’ll find what your manufacturer recommends for your PSI.
Avoiding the Max: How Low Is Too Low?
Alright, so you clearly have to low ball it when it comes to tire pressure. But how low is too low?
For the average vehicle, that’s about 20 PSI, according to experts across the web. But keep in mind, this is still quite a lot lower than the recommended for 44 PSI tires, so it’s insanely low for anything with a higher maximum.
If you’re stuck at 20 PSI in an emergency and have no way to further inflate, then it’s safe to drive. That doesn’t mean you should make a habit of driving at this pressure, and it can have a negative impact on your tires, anyway.
What Happens When the Pressure Is Incorrect?
Let’s go back to the statement in the introduction about issues incorrect tire pressure can cause.
There are a number of devils at work when the tire pressure is off, impacting the quality and safety of your drive.
With High Pressure…
With high tire pressure, the ride gets bumpy, lurchy and dangerous.
The more air is in your tires, the rounder and harder they become. They won’t sag under the weight of your vehicle, meaning a minimal stretch of tire surface touches the ground.
Less rubber on the road means less friction, which is reckless at best in dry conditions. In wet weather, it’s a major risk, and don’t even consider driving in snow.
The lack of friction causes the following problems:
- Reaching higher speeds without intending to.
- Bumpy, bouncy rides where your tires aren’t absorbing shock.
- Increased stopping distances, which skilled drivers can remedy, but is it worth the risk?
- Loss of control, temporarily, on tight corners.
Signs of High Tire Pressure
Let’s say you’re not the most in-tune driver. You’re safe, but you don’t pay attention to the little things. Not only that, but you haven’t checked your tire pressure in a while, and your driving style has always caused bumps and high speeds.
What should you look out for that indicates your tire pressure is higher than it should be?
- Your vehicle reaches high speeds easier than the model should.
- Despite your best efforts, you’re constantly slipping over the speed limit without noticing.
- Small bumps are having the same impact as large bumps.
- Issues with sudden braking—you can’t seem to stop in time.
With Low Pressure…
Now, what’s the issue with low pressure? You’ve got plenty of rubber in contact with the road, tons of friction. It couldn’t be safer, right?
Actually, you’ve got too much friction now.
In some ways, this isn’t unsafe. The increased friction will slow you down. Your braking distances will never have been better, it’s simple to stop at the drop of a hat.
But it won’t be comfortable.
You’re facing:
- Bumpier rides as your tires unsag and re-sag under the weight of your vehicle as you encounter debris.
- Lurching, possibly dangerously, after sudden braking—you may be in danger of whiplash, or nausea if you’ve recently eaten.
- Rapid tire deterioration—so much of the tire is on the ground and it’s bound to wear out the tread.
- Your tires overheating—too much friction, and you’re at risk of generating some serious, tire-damaging heat.
- Unstable/unbalanced vehicle if your tires are uneven.
Signs of Low Tire Pressure
Besides the thought, “Man, I’m not driving well today!” it’s not easy to notice low tire pressure.
Here are some signs that something’s gone wrong and you need to investigate your wheels:
- Your vehicle is drifting to one side—uneven tires can do that.
- The vehicle feels lopsided—perhaps the pressure is only down in one or two tires, leading to a crooked car.
- Your gas tank is emptying rapidly—it’s taking more energy to power through as your tires drag, slowing you.
- Bumps and small debris become shaky to go over—there’s less air to absorb the shock.
- The tires squeal on corners but never did before—this is the result of the extra rubber on the road.
Checking Your Tire Pressure: Best Practices
None of the signs above sound pleasant to experience out of the blue.
To avoid using those methods of detection, keep on top of your tire pressure.
Unless you have a fancy car with a tire pressure monitor installed on the dashboard, you won’t always know your tire pressure. So check it at least once a month, or more frequently if you live in a heated area.
Also check tire pressure before/on:
- Longer than average trips.
- Extra hot days.
- Carrying extra cargo.
- Off-road driving that’ll require more friction.
Adjust the tire pressure as needed for these situations; increase tire pressure for the former two, decrease it for the latter.
If you drive under these conditions often, perhaps consider a vehicle with a tire pressure monitor on the dash next time. It saves effort and creates efficiency.
Checking Tire Pressure: The Basics
So you know when to check your tire pressure. Do you know how? It’s a simple process.
Step #1: Acquire a Gauge
You can go digital or old school here. We recommend this tire pressure checker, as it’s digital and therefore instant. It detects anything as high as 150 PSI and is well-rated overall.
If you don’t wish to own your own gauge, many gas stations with tire-filling stations also have a gauge.
Step #2: Pick a Time
One reason to get your own gauge is so you can check the pressure when your tires are completely cold. You want an accurate measurement, and even a 5-minute drive to the gas station can make your tires work up a figurative sweat.
Check your tire pressure in the morning, or at the very least after three hours of inactivity.
Step #3: Use Your Gauge
Locate the valve on your tires—a little silver piece that sticks out.
Now you can press your gauge against (digital) or insert your gauge into (traditional) this valve. Digital gauges will be instant; wait a moment for traditional, and read your tire pressure.
Step #4: Make Adjustments
If your tire pressure is adequate for your next trip, perfect. If it’s not, then you have more work to do.
How to Adjust Car Tire Pressure
Increasing
It’s easy to increase tire pressure once you have the right tool. Don’t worry if you don’t have a car tire pump, though—a gas station probably does.
Take the drive carefully, making sure you combat the issues from earlier if they arise. Your tire pressure may be low, but this short trip should be fine.
If the pump lacks a pressure gauge, stop frequently to re-check your pressure. If it gets too high or was too high to start with, you’ll need to…
Decreasing
Remove the valve stem cap, so it reveals the pin, and press on this pin. You’ll need a small tool to make it easier for you.
Stop to recheck the tire pressure at regular intervals.
The Final Mile
When you need to know what is the recommended tire pressure for 44 PSI max, you should now have your answer. The recommended tire pressure for 44 PSI max is 39.6, but there are circumstantial exceptions to this rule.
Please keep on top of your tire pressure for your own safety. Check it monthly, and ensure you have the right tools or services near you to adjust it when necessary.
