Minor Rant: Why does tire air cost $1.00?

[tridim]

When I fill my tires I have to pretend I'm in the pits and race to get all 5 tires filled within the time limit. If I don't, I have pay another $1.00. If I choose to use a pressure guage there's absolutely no way to beat the timer. Not only that, but about half the time those damn machines are either broken or don't work very well. If the machine is broken I lose the dollar ("Sorry sir, we don't own the air machine, call the number on the side") or if it's leaky it costs me another dollar because it's so slow.

Remember when air used to be complimentary? I used to fill my tires almost every week to maintain good mileage. Now I'm lucky if I do it every 6 months and it's always a major hassle.

Minor rant over.. but I'm still pissed because it's a scam.

[acmavm]

1. Oh geez, we must have some crappy air because it only

costs 50 cents.

[XboxWarrior]

14. ANSWERE!!!!!!!

get one 'o these..........

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I would suggest you get an air compressor

then you can inflate your tires without paying the money. Handy if you are out in the boonies, and if you inflate regularly, will pay for itself in no time.

[tridim]

5. I used to have a cheap tire inflator, but it sucked

It took about 15 minutes per tire and it broke after about 10 top ups.

If I could afford a real compressor, I'd certainly buy one.

[MADem]

3. Gee, I must be one lucky skunk

My local gas station still does it for free...and is full service, too!

[Tempest]

4. Go to any Jiffy Lube

They fill up tires for free.

So do many full service stations.

[tridim]

8. I'll check there..

Maybe it's just the stations around me that got rid of their free air.

[SoCalDem]

6. You can buy a cute little air compressor at Pep Boys for $50

and can use it for lots of stuff at home too...blowing up kiddie pools, blowing debris out of the garage, blowing up soccer balls, balloons, etc.. and never have to try the gas stations again:)

When I was young, the attendants always checked the air pressure on tires and filled them for you while you waited in the car..and the washed the windows, and checked the oil and water too:) while the 20cent gas was filling your tank... 1967 was a very good year

[u4ic]

7. Nickel and diming

I'm sure it'll happen here soon, too.

Many stations around here have simply taken out the air machines. You can't pull into a station anymore automatically assuming it'll be there.

[tridim]

10. It'd probably save millions of gallons of gas per year

if they bring them back. Tire pressure is very important for mileage and safety.

[u4ic]

11. The gas stations wouldn't want that, though

would they? ;-)

[lectrobyte]

9. We used to have a free water fountain. They took it out and

added bottles of water to the coke machine. 75 cents a bottle. Welcome to the 21st century, I guess.

[KamaAina]

12. Haven't you heard? It's called "inflation".

:-)

[SOteric]

13. You've answered your own question.

Because the machines keep breaking. And 9 times out of 10 because some drunken baffoon used it incorrectly or a dipshit fratboy thought it would be fun to prank the next guy to use it.

It costs money to repair the things and filling stations began suffering a loss. The theory is, if they charge for it, people will be less likely to act like asses with the equipment, and whatever they recover will defray the costs of repairs.

[tridim]

26. But the old air stations were so simple

Just a hose coming out of the wall. No guage, no trigger valve.. Nothing to break. The new machines break because they're so complex.

[area51]

15. I hear you.

It's 75¢ in this area. It would be nice if you got the air for free if you also bought gas. They could give you some sort of numerical passcode which would only be active for "x" amount of time. I think I'm in pretty good shape, but I have trouble finishing putting air in my car's tires before the time runs out. I can't help but think of people who are infirm & how they'd have to spend a lot of money trying to put air in their tires.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

16. Free by me.

I was shocked when I went to one gas station and it was $0.35! Guess I'm lucky.

[Nikia]

27. The air at the station closest to us is free also

I don't know if it is universally free in our area. We were able to get free air at another staion in the area for our bike tires.
The station closest to us makes up for it by charging obscene prices for all their food and drinks inside.

[trof]

17. PLEASE read this. VERY important about inflating tires:

It's a common misconception that the air in your tires should be "changed" periodically, i.e. the "old" air should be removed and replaced with "fresh" air.

Not only is this an "old wives tale", it could be very dangerous. So called "fresh" air contains many more pollutants (which could DRASTICALLY affect the chemical compounds in your tires) than the pure air that was installed at the factory.

Think of the air in your tires not as "old", but "broken in". It has achieved a more acceptable coefficient of compression. It's more "comfortable" for your tires. Think "new shoes" versus older, more comfortable, sneakers.

You SHOULD, however, periodically ROTATE the air in your tires. I do it every 3000 miles, although the manufacturer says every 5000 miles is sufficient. IMHO, sooner is BETTER. It should be accomplished in this manner:

1. Have two (2) U.S. DOT approved containers for the air. You'll see why in a minute.
2. Drain the air from front left tire into one container and the air from the rear right tire into the other.
3. Fill the front left tire with the air from the right rear tire, and vice versa.
4. Repeat this procedure with the front right tire and the rear left tire.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that rotation be accomplished in this manner. Due to the rotational inertial forces contained in tire air, to rotate front left to rear left will cause a reverse-corriolus effect, thus INCREASING the internal wear and tear of the tire and causing adverse steering forces. Many's the time I've pulled some neophyte out of a ditch because he paid no heed to this warning.

It's a good thing you asked.

[pokerfan]

18. Thanks! Good advice there

People also need to change their headlight fluid more often, at least twice a year. And don't forget to repack the muffler bearings at least every 50,000 miles.

[trof]

19. Are you Click? Or Clack?

I KNOW you're one of the Tappet Brothers.

[trof]

29. Question:

If you live in a sub-tropical climate, do you really NEED the more expensive 'All Season' headlight fluid?
It rarely goes below freezing here, and besides, won't the lights heat up the fluid when you turn them on anyway?
Also, the standard fluid can be disposed of by just pouring it down the kitchen sink. Heck, you can even water house plants with it.
The All Season must be disposed of in a hazardous waste location.
Thanks.
:-)

[oneighty]

20. Also keep

license plate screwed up tight. Your car will start and run better.

180

[trof]

22. bwaahaahaahaahaa

<spews Scotch on keyboard>

[oneighty]

24. True story

I heard long ago Trof.

hahahaha

180

[tridim]

28. Screw the DOT approved containers..

Just suck it into your lungs and blow it back in. I guess that would require two people though for proper "rotation".

[JVS]

21. Since they know people will pay for it to get better gas mileage...

they charge money. What a country!

[LaraMN]

23. Maybe it's "better" air. Maybe it stays in your tires longer.

:rofl:

[trof]

25. Please read reply #17 above.

Thank you.
:-)