2023 Mazda 3 with those low profile tires.....

[Urshurak776]

So, been driving the car a week and a half since I bought it. Really like it. This morning it was 58 degrees when I went to work. Started car and got the alert that tire pressure low. Not unexpected. Placard says 36 PSI and they were at like 28. Yesterday there was no issue and no alert.

No biggy, stopped at the Mobil station down the road. Nozzle was leaking...bad. Started trying to fill the front driver side tire and the back of the nozzle came apart. Tire pressure dropped to 22 according to the dash. So, immediately left and went down to the QT (across street.) Theirs didn't work at all....

So, went home, opened garage, woke up dog, who woke up my son who works nights, just so I could adjust tires properly and then get to work (late.)

Just wanted to share with you all my great morning.....

 

[JoelB]

Are you implying the low profile tires contribute to more pressure loss? I haven't experienced that myself.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks for sharing, and sorry to hear about your troubles, but what do low profile tires have to do with it specifically?

 

[DriveHard]

...are you saying the smaller volume of low profile tires results in a larger change in pressure for a given change in temperature?

if only there was an equation we could use to validate this idea...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideal_gas_law

 

[dubber09]

The moral of the story - keep an air pump in car's trunk.

Edit:

I have this kind now after last one (diff make and model) died, I think I paid US$25 or so, used this one a few times so far, all good:

 

[Astro14]

So few stations, offer clean, dry air that I decided to get a small compressor for the house. It’s very small and quiet.

https://www.californiaairtools.com/...ompressors/3-5-hp-air-compressor/cat-1p1060s/

I do have a big compressor, with drier, at my shop and stay on top of pressures, particularly in the fall. In fact, when I fill them in the fall, I set them to be at desired pressure, at the lowest anticipated temperature for the next month.

E.G. It’s 60 in Virginia Beach, but I will be driving up to Vermont, where it might get to 20. So, I set them 4 PSI over, so that they will be at the right pressure on the coldest possible morning up there. Sure, I might be a couple PSI over for this location, but it saves me from searching for a station with decent air when I am up there (MapleFields, in Stowe, used to have decent air).

Now that Discount Tire is in town, I have stopped by there, where the wait is minimal, the service is free, and they have dry air.

That’s what I do in Colorado, with the car out there, and I’ve done it here, as well.

 

[Urshurak776]

Sorry, I did not mean to imply low profile tires contributed to that. Not sure if they do or not.

My complaint with low profile tires is they don't last as long and they cost a lot more money.

 

[Urshurak776]

The moral of the story - keep an air pump in car's trunk.

Edit:

I have this kind now after last one (diff make and model) died, I think I paid US$25 or so, used this one a few times so far, all good:

View attachment 236487

https://www.amazon.com/ROCGORLD-Inf...&sprefix=portable+car+air,aps,138&sr=8-3&th=1

Just bought it! Thanks!

 

[Dave Hess]

The moral of the story - keep an air pump in car's trunk.

Edit:

I have this kind now after last one (diff make and model) died, I think I paid US$25 or so, used this one a few times so far, all good:

View attachment 236487

I have an air pump and battery pack in all my vehicles.

No excuses. Every 4 months I charge the battery pack.

 

[Urshurak776]

So few stations, offer clean, dry air that I decided to get a small compressor for the house. It’s very small and quiet.

https://www.californiaairtools.com/...ompressors/3-5-hp-air-compressor/cat-1p1060s/

I do have a big compressor, with drier, at my shop and stay on top of pressures, particularly in the fall. In fact, when I fill them in the fall, I set them to be at desired pressure, at the lowest anticipated temperature for the next month.

E.G. It’s 60 in Virginia Beach, but I will be driving up to Vermont, where it might get to 20. So, I set them 4 PSI over, so that they will be at the right pressure on the coldest possible morning up there. Sure, I might be a couple PSI over for this location, but it saves me from searching for a station with decent air when I am up there (MapleFields, in Stowe, used to have decent air).

Now that Discount Tire is in town, I have stopped by there, where the wait is minimal, the service is free, and they have dry air.

That’s what I do in Colorado, with the car out there, and I’ve done it here, as well.

Thanks! I have a compressor at home, wanted one for the trunk.

 

[jeepman3071]

I have a Viair 12v compressor in both my vehicles, and it has saved my own butt and my friends a few times. There are a few stations around me with air pumps, but none of them seem to be reliably working.

 

[DriveHard]

I have gone through several of those lower priced 12V compressors. I finally invested in something decent that works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004B68XGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[dubber09]

I have a Viair 12v compressor in both my vehicles, and it has saved my own butt and my friends a few times. There are a few stations around me with air pumps, but none of them seem to be reliably working.

Air pumps at gas stations are not free anymore, and one needs to make it to the gas station to use such a pump and likely to have change on hand.
Chances are you have a low tire or a flat, then you need a pump; you will likely notice low tire while parked - just pump it right there and then with your own pump and deal with cause of the leak a bit later in more controlled setting. If it's a damaged flat tire then you need to get spare out, it may need air too. Just get your own air pump and keep it in trunk. I normally don't advocate cheap and disposable stuff but a small $25 pump lasting 5-7 years makes sense to me.

 

[Rand]

Air pumps at gas stations are not free anymore,

250 getgo's have free air and some have 2 air pumps. but that is regional.

Low profile tires would definitely deflate faster if they get a leak, or adding air from a bad hose.. etc.
but not from temp changes.

I have a viair 85p that is a nice piece. Not one of these Chinese all plastic things that blow up after 2 tires.
Just be careful ...they have them on aliexpress now so probably knockoffs all over ebay and amazon.

I have a jump box but dont carry it midsummer it gets too hot in car IMO. 150F possible.
the other 8 months or so It lives under the seat JNC 318

You can usually get a recon pancake compressor from direct tools under $80 its plenty for tires and some light air blowgun (computer cases etc)

 

[Pew]

I keep a Ryobi handheld one with a 2.5Ah battery in the spare tire compartment. Less stops at a gas station

 

[wavinwayne]

On my wife's and kids cars, I use my Park Tools bicycle tire pump to add tire pressure when the temps drop. It takes a lot of pumps but I get an arm workout. On my car if it ever needs air I use the free air at the Exchange gas station near my work.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The viair's almost always come on a great sale before Thanksgiving. The smaller ones around $100, or used to be.

 

[PWMDMD]

Sorry, I did not mean to imply low profile tires contributed to that. Not sure if they do or not.

My complaint with low profile tires is they don't last as long and they cost a lot more money.

Based on the ideal gas law, and while air is not an ideal gas it still basically follows the ideal gas law, smaller volume low profile tires will hold a smaller number of air molecules which would decrease pressure but then again it’s a smaller volume tire which wants to increase pressure, so it’s a wash. Larger tires hold more air molecules which wants to increase pressure but they have a larger volume so that wants to decrease pressure, again it’s a wash. My conclusion is simply the change in pressure is proportional to the change in temperature for a given size tire.

P=nRT/V is really just P is proportional to T

I think I got that right…it’s been 25 years and I’m sitting on a beach in Cape Cod and I don’t really sit on a beach all that well…at least not for long. I’m getting bored on FlightAware and Vesseltracker.

 

[skyactiv]

250 getgo's have free air and some have 2 air pumps. but that is regional.

Low profile tires would definitely deflate faster if they get a leak, or adding air from a bad hose.. etc.
but not from temp changes.

I have a viair 85p that is a nice piece. Not one of these Chinese all plastic things that blow up after 2 tires.
Just be careful ...they have them on aliexpress now so probably knockoffs all over ebay and amazon.

I have a jump box but dont carry it midsummer it gets too hot in car IMO. 150F possible.
the other 8 months or so It lives under the seat JNC 318

You can usually get a recon pancake compressor from direct tools under $80 its plenty for tires and some light air blowgun (computer cases etc)

This might sound hard to believe until you Google it. Giant Eagle is selling the GetGo's to Couche Tard. Those free pumps are probably coming to an end.

 

[Danno]

I have gone through several of those lower priced 12V compressors. I finally invested in something decent that works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004B68XGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The alligator clip versions are more powerful, but less convenient, and you're further from the farthest tire as they use car battery power. I've been using this manufacturer, but with the lighter socket adapter version. Works great, have had it at the dealership for 2 years.