Cold mornings don’t just mess with your mood, they mess with your tires too. If your tire light pops on after a chilly night in Newport News, it’s probably not bad luck or a slow leak. Cold air takes up less space, so when temperatures drop, tire pressure drops right along with it.

A good rule of thumb is about one PSI lost for every 10-degree drop in temperature. Around here, that swing from mild afternoons to cold mornings can happen overnight. Your tires feel it before you do. Driving on low pressure can hurt gas mileage, wear tires unevenly, and make handling feel a little off, especially on wet roads.

The fix is simple and quick. Check your tire pressure when the tires are cold, not after you’ve been driving around town. Use the number listed inside your driver-side door, not the one printed on the tire. That door sticker is set for your car, not the tire manufacturer.

Air pumps are cheap insurance, and most gas stations still have one that works, eventually. Ignore that warning light all winter, and it’ll cost you more than a few cold fingers.