I was wondering about keeping more of an eye on the tire pressure, but measuring the pressure (and so I guess filling them up) should be done on cold tires, right? At the moment the closest fuel station with an air filling station is 2m away. Would that warm up my tires too much to get an accurate reading and if needed fill-up?
Check the tire pressure at home when they are cold. If you need to add air, note how much for each tire. Add that amount to whatever you read when they are hot. It's not perfect, but it will get you close enough. Tom
The gas station where I fill my tires is 1.25 miles away. I've tested tire pressure a few times at home and when I arrived at the gas station, and it's a 1 PSI increase (didn't seem to fluctuate based on ambient temperature). Given this, I set the tires at the gas station 1 PSI higher than the cold setting.
I can't answer you specific question with any degree of accuracy, since I live about 7 miles from the nearest gas station. But I wanted to see if I could offer an alternative to driving to the air pump. Just buy your own... Not sure if they still have the same ones, but mal-wart used to have an air pump that plugs into the power port. It was about $10 or so. Mine has saved me a good bit of time and money. I once sprung a leak in the middle of nowhere and was able to pump enough air in the tire to make it back to civilization. It was slow, much slower than it would have been at a gas station, but at least it worked. I would also suggest buying a good quality digital pressure gauge. They are far more accurate than the kind where the plastic piece slides out. (I tested them side-by-side) Mine will measure in half-pound increments, as I assume most do anyway. I think I paid about $12 for it at Advance Auto Parts a few years ago.
Thanks rpeeples. I was thinking the same actually . I was wondering about plugging in the air pump though. Does that not draw power from the normal small battery? No risk of draining the tiny capacity of it? I'm gonna look around for the digital meter and the pump. Thanks again.
I've owned one of these for 10 years now (paid abouit $8 for it back then). Walmart.com: Bell Sports Foot Pumper Multi-Sport Pump: Bikes & Riding Toys If you read the reviews, you might be puzzled. I've found that (like with a lot of things :redface smooth strokes were the key to success. I'm thinking that the people with trouble had used them in a more frenzied/frustrated manner. Can't tell you how many tires it saved my butt in my old Mazda Protege 5 with the porous factory aluminum wheels. Would take tire from 20lbs to 32lbs in about 5 minutes of healthy exercise. That and a good digital gauge in my rear storage compartment give me a good sense of security.
To be honest, I am not sure how much it would drain the battery. I would think if the tire is completely flat then it might have some effect on the battery, since the pump would run for quite a long time. I ran mine for about twenty minutes once and, when finished, the car started without the first sign of hesitation.I have used it mostly for topping off, which means it only runs for a few minutes. One after thought is to buy a valve stem tool and some valve caps. They are both really cheap, only a few dollars, and might come as a set. The tool is used to tighten the valve stem, just keep them snug but not overly tight. It seems that I have had them loosen up over time and constantly leak. Tightening fixes that problem. The valve caps keep dust and grime out of the valve stem. It is common to lose them on the road, at least for me it is.
If you use a plug-in 12V compressor, just make sure you leave your Prius in Ready when using it. That will keep it from draining the 12V battery. My preference is a 12V jump box with integral compressor. It has its own battery that you charge from the wall. You get the convenience of not needed a cord when you fill your tires, plus you can jump your Prius or another car in an emergency. You can buy a nice one for less than $50. Tom
