When temperatures drop to somewhere between chilly and frigid, it’s time to check the air pressure in your tires. As we learned in high school physics, air compresses as it gets colder, which lowers your tire pressures.

Low pressures cause the sidewall of the tire to flex, leading to handling problems, excessive tire wear, reduced fuel economy and even tire failure.

Signs of low tire pressure may include your car pulling to one side, a drop in fuel economy, and “squealing” sounds during normal acceleration and cornering. Of course, if you are lucky enough to have a vehicle with a tire pressure monitoring system, that little yellow warning light is a dead giveaway.

If you don’t know the proper air pressure for your tires, check your owner’s manual or look on the side of the tire itself, near the rim of the wheel. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your car and check your pressures often, adding air as needed.

When temperatures warm up again, the air in your tires will expand, and you will need to let air out to prevent over-inflation.

Drive safely!