© 2026 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
SC Public Radio's statewide network is experiencing intermittent outages and programming issues due to ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Our team is working to keep these disruptions to a minimum and to resolve issues that do arise. During broadcast outages, streaming on this site, the SCETV App, the NPR App, and smart speakers will remain unaffected.

Winter Weather and Your Tires

Winter in South Carolina is unpredictable – some winters are harsh and others are quite mild, but one thing you should be checking regularly, regardless of the conditions, is your tires.  You want to make sure your tires are properly maintained, but you also need to check regularly that the tire pressure is correct for your vehicle and tire specifications.  

An under inflated tired is more likely to hydroplane than a properly inflated one.  And an under inflated tire uses more gasoline to go the same distance as a properly inflated one.   For these reasons, it’s a good idea to keep a tire pressure gauge in your car.  You’ll want to test tire pressure cold – before you’ve driven or at least three hours after driving to get a true reading.  Keep in mind that it’s important to check tire pressure (including your spare tire) at least once a month because your tire pressure is affected by cold temperatures.