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How Often Should I Change The Air In My Car's Tires?

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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:37 AM
Original message
How Often Should I Change The Air In My Car's Tires?
Is it based on actual AGE or based on the number of MILES actually traveled?

-- Allen
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GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:38 AM
Response to Original message
1. Change the air?
*confused look* You mean...deflate them all the way, and refill them with air? *scratches head*

Never heard that one...now, I add air every now and then, but change it?
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boxster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:39 AM
Response to Original message
2. I hope you're joking. If not, please be aware that this IS an old joke.
Tires lose air, so just keep them inflated properly. It isn't necessary to change the air. Really.
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YellowRubberDuckie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:39 AM
Response to Original message
3. WAIT, Allen. Change the AIR?
Are your friends playing jokes on you again?
Duckie
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Loonman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:40 AM
Response to Original message
4. Change the air?
Somebody is playing a joke on you.


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KC21304 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:02 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. Who is playing a joke on whom ?
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YNGW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:43 AM
Response to Original message
5. Have you ever gone "snipe hunting"?
nc
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INTELBYTES Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:44 AM
Response to Original message
6. It should be changed out every 57,000 miles.
I usually make it a practice to change it out everytime I replace my flux capacitor. There is nothing worse than driving around with bad air.
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StClone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:48 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. My Muffler Belt
Edited on Thu Jan-22-04 09:49 AM by StClone
Is attached to the Flux Capacitor should that been changed at the same time? The guys at the garage told me they ran a computer check on it and it was getting bad. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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northzax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 12:07 PM
Response to Reply #8
27. well that depends
do you have a computerised Torque Containment Regulator? if you do, then you're fine. otherwise, the odds are good your muffler belt has already worn through the power-drive compression unit, and woohee, let me tell you, that is expensive.

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jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 12:38 PM
Response to Reply #8
29. Yes, change the muffler belt when you change the flux capacitor
The muffler belt has to come off to reach the flux capacitor; that's the perfect time to change it.

At your 50,000-mile service (not translatable into kilometers because people who use kilometers have better cars) you must change the following:

Muffler belt
Flux capacitor
Air in the tires--and don't forget the spare
Windshield grease
Fart catcher in the seat cushions

You must clean these items:
Back of the headliner
Seat belt joints
Steering wheel bolt

You must also lubricate the seat springs and remove the 1970s disco songs that are stuck in your speakers.
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greendog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #8
32. and don't forget to have your door handles rotated....
....uneven wear will cause your vehicle to track funny at highway speeds.
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Waistdeep Donating Member (469 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:45 AM
Response to Original message
7. I drain my tires every month
I know, I know you don't have to do it that often, but I'm pretty fastidious. Problem is disposing of all the barrels of old air piling up in my garage. Nobody wants used air. B-)
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Champion Jack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:48 AM
Response to Original message
9. You only need to change it if the deflaggerator goes out,
but, make sure you use the proper gizmotron for your tires or you'll have big problems.
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Cuban_Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:53 AM
Response to Original message
10. Add a quart every 3000 miles, and you should be fine.
Pouring it in that little hole can be tricky, though, so be very careful. :P
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soup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:54 AM
Response to Original message
11. Don't listen to the naysayers.
It is imperative you perform and base this procedure precisely on the following formula:

5 x the number of licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop divided by February plus a baker's dozen minus the number of petals on a daisy, my personal scientifically calculated change-out falls every third Saturday at exactly 9:18 p.m. if it's raining in Chicago.

But then, some people also factor in time zones plus feet above sea level minus the number of times the dog barks when the mailman is at the door x the total of the sum of the numbers in their birth year -

Good luck :hi:
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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:59 AM
Response to Reply #11
13. I've Heard That Tires Often EXPLODE When You Fill Them At Sea-Level...
and then drive to higher elevations where the air is thinner and has less pressure.

There ought to be a safety overflow regulator that would prevent this from happening.

-- Allen
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soup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:05 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. That would explain why Iowans prefer
chocolate ice cream over strawberry. :think:
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fleetus Donating Member (276 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 09:58 AM
Response to Original message
12. Have you tried helium?
Helium costs more than air, but I've found that the fuel economy savings (due to the weight reduction) really adds up over time. Just a thought if you have finally realized that it's time to change the air in your tires.

p.s. Be sure to use automobile grade helium.

:dunce:
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:09 AM
Response to Original message
16. Don't "CHANGE" it. ROTATE it.
It's a common misconception that the air in your tires should be "changed" periodically, i.e. the "old" air should be removed and replaced with "fresh" air.

Not only is this an "old wives tale", it could be very dangerous. So called "fresh" air contains many more pollutants (which could DRASTICALLY affect the chemical compounds in your tires) than the pure air that was installed at the factory.

Think of the air in your tires not as "old", but "broken in". It has achieved a more acceptable coefficient of compression. It's more "comfortable" for your tires. Think "new shoes" versus older, more comfortable, sneakers.

You SHOULD, however, periodically ROTATE the air in your tires. I do it every 3000 miles, although the manufacturer says every 5000 miles is sufficient. IMHO, sooner is BETTER. It should be accomplished in this manner:

1. Have two (2) U.S. DOT approved containers for the air. You'll see why in a minute.
2. Drain the air from front left tire into one container and the air from the rear right tire into the other.
3. Fill the front left tire with the air from the right rear tire, and vice versa.
4. Repeat this procedure with the front right tire and the rear left tire.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that rotation be accomplished in this manner. Due to the rotational inertial forces contained in tire air, to rotate front left to rear left will cause a reverse-corriolus effect, thus INCREASING the internal wear and tear of the tire and causing adverse steering forces. Many's the time I've pulled some neophyte out of a ditch because he paid no heed to this warning.

It's a good thing you asked.
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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:31 AM
Response to Reply #16
19. I Haven't Driven My Truck Since Before Thanksgiving...
do you think that there may be some danger in allowing the air to settle for too long?

Could this cause the tires to become imbalanced?

-- Allen
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:38 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. The heavier air
DOES tend to collect in the lower part of the chamber, but a quick turn around the block will provide plenty of "mixing" action to redistribute the air into a more uniform confluence.

You really don't know ANYTHING about cars, do you?
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areschild Donating Member (952 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:11 AM
Response to Original message
17. I've heard
that if you rotate the tires every month that has a d in it, you wouldn't have to change the air. I don't really understand this as the tires start rotating everytime I leave the driveway. Does this mean it's safe to leave the old air in and only change it when the car is in Park?:shrug:
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latebloomer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 10:12 AM
Response to Original message
18. Just add a little mouthwash
to freshen it up.
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TrogL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:22 AM
Response to Original message
21. There is no such thing as air
There is no such thing as matter.
So it doesn't matter.
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chemenger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:39 AM
Response to Original message
22. As often as you like!
I would recommend changing the air in your tires as frequently as you change the air in your head!
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jburton Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:49 AM
Response to Original message
23. I used to own a Volkswagen
Had to import air from Germany.

Very expensive to maintain.

:crazy:
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 12:34 PM
Response to Reply #23
28. Yeah, and it smelled like...what?...sauerkraut?
pew
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Cena Donating Member (26 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:51 AM
Response to Original message
24. Change the air? You don't need to change the air in tires.
It's nice to rotate your tires once or twice a year, if that's what you mean. :shrug:
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CanuckAmok Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
25. You don't have to. However, the blinker fluid...
...should be changed every two years or so...
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VelmaD Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 11:53 AM
Response to Original message
26. Allen, you crack me up
This thread just rescued my morning. *smooches* :-)
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INTELBYTES Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 01:21 PM
Response to Original message
30. I used to use US Air...but they went bankrupt.
Now I use Virgin Air when available.
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. I really think the Extra-Virgin is better, but
at WalMart all you can get is Chinese air.
You think it's working just fine and then 3 hours later your tires go flat.
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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 02:50 PM
Response to Reply #31
33. I Hear That's Why It's Important To FILTER YOUR AIR...
or use an air softener additive.

-- Allen
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INTELBYTES Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-22-04 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #31
34. I won't support walmart and their chinese air....
they use children in the air mines to extract the air. I've seen pictures of the little children coming out of the mines with air smudged all over their faces. It breaks my heart.
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