How to Let Air Out of a Tire: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

FAQs

How do you manually let air out of tires? ›

Press down on the tip of the valve to deflate the tire.

Pressing down on the cap once it's loose will release the air from the tire. You should hear and feel the air shoot out of the valve as you press down on the valve cap.

Twist off the cap, and you'll expose a metal pin. If you look at the back of the air pressure tool there is a small nipple that is for releasing air pressure. Use this, or a similar tool, to press down on the pin firmly. This will release air from the tire.

Remove the cap from the stem by rotating it counterclockwise. Inside the center of the stem, you will find a metal pin. Get a flat-head screwdriver and place its top over the top of the metal pin, then press it inward. The tire will begin to release air through the valve stem.

The recommended tire pressure can be found in your car's manual or on the driver's side door jamb. Press the valve stem: Place the end of the pressure gauge or a small object like a screwdriver on the valve stem and press down. This will open the valve and release the air from the tire.

Using a Schrader valve tool, or a pair of fine needle nose pliers, you can unscrew and remove the Schrader valve which will release all the air in the tire.

Thumb Check

All you have to do is push your thumb down on the tire to feel the pressure. Underinflated tires will be soft. You will find your tires to be extremely stiff if they are overinflated. The tire pressure is proper if your tire is not too soft or too stiff as mentioned above.

Remove the valve cap from the stem on the tire to expose the metal pin. If you have an air pressure tool, the back is equipped with a small piece specifically designed for releasing air pressure. Press down firmly on the pin of the valve using this tool, or another similar item, to release air.

Once you have properly inflated your tires, the tire pressure light should automatically go off. However, if it doesn't, there are a few different things that you can try: Drive at or above 50 mph to reset the sensor for 10 minutes. This causes your sensor to reset the next time you turn on your car.

You can let out air by pressing on the tiny pin in the center of the tire's valve stem. Often, your fingernail will work for this, and some tire pressure gauges have a built-in means to do so.

How do you air down tires fast? ›

Automatic tire deflators screw onto your tire's valve stem and automatically let the air out of the tire until you reach your target pressure. First, you need need to set up your target tire pressure manually and then simply screw them on to your valve stems and let the tire deflators take the air out for you.

Overinflation can cause loss of traction. Even in normal driving conditions, you are more susceptible to losing traction, spinning out or crashing. Therefore, it is even more noticeable if your tires are overinflated in winter weather. Overinflation creates a harsher ride.

Replace the cap, screwing it on with a few turns until you hear air hissing out. Even if it's only hissing out a little bit, that's enough - it will deflate slowly. The whole process should take about 10 seconds.

Generally, you'll find the reset button under the steering wheel. If you can't quickly locate it, check your owner's manual. Try inflating each tire 3 PSI over the recommended amount, then deflate them completely. You'll want to do this with the spare tire too, since it may have its own sensor.

Traction might be helped a little but at the expense of steering control and longer stopping distance. Likewise, you may hear that reducing tire pressure is another way of increasing traction. Reducing air pressure will not give you more traction and your tires could become seriously underinflated, affecting steering.