How to Save Yourself from Buying New Tires for Your Car

85% of drivers do not properly check their tire pressure. Improperly inflated tires reduce your fuel efficiency by over 3% and cause premature wear on your tires.

Invest in a quality tire pressure gauge, preferably a digital one. Most tire pressure gauges are $10-$20 and are available at auto supply stores and websites.

Find the valve stem on your tire. It's about 1.5 inches long and has a small screw cap on the end. Follow the instructions that came with your tire pressure gauge and test the pressure in all four tires. Write down what the pressure is for each tire.

Many gas and service stations have free air compressors you can use to fill your tires. You can also choose to invest in a home air compressor, especially if you have multiple cars.

Fill your tires to the recommended level. Write down on your list how much air you put in each tire and put the list in your glove compartment. When you check your tire pressure again in a month, refer to the list to see how much each tire is leaking. If one tire is leaking air faster than the others, you might want to have it checked out by a professional.

Check your tire pressure when the tires are "cold," having been stationary for three or more hours, or not driven more than one mile.