Where the rubber meets the road is the only place your Lincoln makes contact with the ground. Have you ever thought about how important that is? No matter what model you drive - the new Lincoln Navigator, the luxurious Lincoln Continental, or the versatile Lincoln MKX - your tires are fundamentally important.
Proper tread depth is important, but there's something that is just as
crucial, or even more so. Your tire inflation
is a factor for your safe driving and to minimize maintenance and
repair costs. Proper tire pressure can save you money and keep you safe.
Importance of Tire Pressure
Whether you drive a Lincoln or another make, the importance of tire pressure on safe motoring is still the same. These are a few of the functions of proper tire pressure.
Absorbs Road Vibration
Your car's suspension isn't the only system that makes your ride quiet and smooth. Properly inflated tires take away the harshness you'd otherwise feel from the road surface. But be careful your Lincoln's tires are inflated to the proper tire pressure. If they're too high, the ride quality gets too firm. Too low, and there's more road noise because of increased surface contact with the road.
Enhances Vehicle Control
Properly inflated tires feel like easy sailing on Michigan highways. If your tire pressures are low, the softness in the tires can make you feel more swaying. Overinflated tires, on the other hand, can make your steering feel overly sensitive.
Reduces Stress on Suspension and Steering
When your tire pressure is in the right zone, your Lincoln's steering and suspension are happy. Overinflated tires can cause added stress on your suspension and steering components, which could result in premature wear.
Symptoms of Improper Tire Pressure
There are ways to detect when your tire pressure isn't right, even without a tire pressure gauge.
Worn Shoulder
Look at the tread section of your tires. Are the inner and outer edges - the shoulders - worn more than the center section? That's caused by underinflation. The shoulder areas are supporting your vehicle on the road more than they're intended, causing premature wear. Adjusting inflation up to the proper tire pressure will prevent worn shoulders.
Worn Center Tread
When you inspect the tread section, is the center portion worn more than the outer edges? It's bulging out more than it should, and that's caused by over-inflation. You can't get that tread back without replacing the tire, but you can prevent it from getting worse by reducing pressure to your Lincoln's recommended inflation.
Decreased Fuel Efficiency
Have you noticed your fuel efficiency getting worse? Low tire pressure causes increased rolling resistance. To overcome the higher resistance, your engine needs to burn more fuel. In fact, for every PSI your tire pressure is low, your fuel efficiency drops 0.4 percent. It doesn't sound like much but if your tires are 10PSI low, it's noticeable at the pumps!
Lincoln Tire Pressure Monitoring System
When you own a Lincoln, your car or SUV is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. If your tire pressure is too high or too low, you'll receive a warning on your dash so it can be adjusted.
To learn more about tire pressure monitoring systems on Lincoln models, or to discover other safety and convenience features on Lincoln cars and SUVs, visit Lincoln of Troy, where the factory-trained team is eager to provide the best customer experience possible.
