Surely, you’ve driven over the massacred remains of a blown out tire on the highway, the rubber strewn across all lanes serving as a vicious reminder that despite your RV or two vehicle’s smooth ride, you’re not actually riding on air. I’ll bet the sight caused you to promise to check your tires the minute you get off the interstate. I have the same juicy rationalization whenever I walk out of the dentist’s office – I’ll brush and floss every day from now on. I’m guessing like me, that vow somehow got misplaced, probably right between gassing up and buying that cup of Joe.

File this column under “cheap insurance,” as this month we’re talking about tire gauges. For those of you who routinely inspect your tires and measure their air pressure, I thank you. And my family thanks you since they won’t have to worry about your RV fishtailing down the road, playing bumper pool with my mini-van after you’ve suffered a nasty blow out. But don’t do it just for me. Proper inflation delivers better fuel economy, easier driving, and means fewer Sunday afternoons spent tire shopping. Actually, you’ve got no good reason not to check those tires. That is, unless you enjoy filling out accident reports and phoning your insurance company.

Tires “fail” for a variety of reasons, but improper inflation and overloading are the two biggest. And while it may require a vehicle weigh-in to reveal the portliness of your vehicle and cargo, a simple tire gauge can expose the plight of a too plump or aired-out tire crying for your attention. Be sure to check your air pressures monthly or before any long excursion. Hot weather accelerates loss of pressure, so check more frequently in warmer climates. Always measure your tires when they are “cold,” when driven less than a mile. (The heat generated from driving adds to pressure readings). You’ll find your tire’s “fighting weight,” or PSI (pounds per square inch) in the owner’s manual, vehicle door edge, glove box, or on the sidewall of the tires themselves. Tire pressure should be considered an exact science; too much or too little are both equally problematic. As a Tire Industry Safety Council billboard reads outside Washington: “The only thing worse than inflation is under inflation.” I’m sure Congress got a kick out of that one. And while you’re nosing around, keep tabs on any weather checking or signs of wear, particularly in the sidewalls.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cautions against relying on air meters at service stations, as their readings may be skewed do to exposure or abuse. I stopped using them long ago when my sagging tires recorded three different readings at three different locations. My advice is to spring for your very own gauge, which begs the question: “Can you ever have enough gear”? Tire gauges range from cheap, dime store items to RV-specific versions accurate to 160 psi. Regarding the question of which one kind is best, I defer to my father’s sage advice: “Buy the best, buy it once.”

For those driving dualies (two tires sharing the same side of an axle), it’s important to measure the much-forgotten inside tire, as its close proximity to the heated brakes may hasten wear. The NHTSA would also like to dispel the myth that underinflation leads to better traction. A big no-no, they say.

RV tires get the worst of everything – long months of storage, followed by hard driving and heavy loads. They are the foundation on which your travels are built, so don’t take chances. And flossing is not a bad idea, either.