Even careful drivers make mistakes when checking tire pressure—avoiding these errors protects your tires and ensures safety. One major mistake is checking hot tires, which gives inaccurate, inflated readings (wait 3+ hours after driving). Relying solely on TPMS is another error—TPMS doesn’t alert you to gradual pressure loss, only severe underinflation. Using the maximum PSI on the tire sidewall instead of the vehicle’s recommended PSI leads to overinflation, reducing contact area and causing uneven wear. Failing to tighten valve caps after checking allows air leakage and debris buildup. Ignoring slow leaks (e.g., pressure dropping 2-3 PSI weekly) can lead to underinflation and blowouts—have the tire inspected for punctures. Finally, using a damaged or uncalibrated gauge results in incorrect readings—test your gauge against a professional one annually. By avoiding these mistakes, you ensure accurate pressure checks and keep your tires in optimal condition.