GetGo Now Charges $3 for Air. Here's Where to Fill Your Tires for Free.

GetGo Now Charges $3 for Air. Here's Where to Fill Your Tires for Free.

The air machines at GetGo now cost $3. Here are the free-air spots west siders are recommending instead, plus why your tire light keeps coming on this time of year.

We say this with heavy hearts, Buzz Nation: GetGo's air machines will now cost you $3.

Inflation has found a way into our tires.

If they want us to pay for air, we say good day.

What changed at GetGo?

Free air used to be one of those small GetGo perks, right up there with fuelperks. Now the machines charge $3 a fill.

Three dollars doesn't sound like much until you remember it's for air. And with fall here, a lot of us are about to need it more than usual.

Where can you still get free air on the west side?

We went where everyone goes for honest local intel: Reddit. Here's what west siders recommend:

• Conrad's in Lakewood. The tire shop came up first.
• Eddy's Bike Shop in Rocky River. We hope they don't mind 20,000 new friends knowing.
• Sheetz. Free air was a Reddit favorite.

Policies can vary by location and change without notice, so if you're making a special trip, it's worth a quick call first. And most tire shops will top you off if you ask nicely.

Bring a tire gauge and a little optimism.

Why does my tire light come on when it gets cold?

Because cold air takes up less space. As a rule of thumb, tires lose about 1 PSI for every 10-degree drop in temperature. A 70-degree afternoon followed by a 40-degree morning can be enough to trip your tire pressure light.

That's not always a leak. Often it's just October in Cleveland.

How much air should I put in?

• Check the sticker on the driver's door jamb. That's your car's recommended pressure.
• Ignore the big number on the tire sidewall. That's the maximum the tire can hold, not what your car needs.
• Check when tires are cold, before you've driven much. Warm tires read high.
• Do it monthly, and more often as temperatures drop.

Is a portable tire inflator worth it?

If you're filling up a few times every fall and winter, a plug-in inflator that runs off your car can pay for itself after a handful of $3 fills. It also means never fishing for a card at a gas station air machine in January.

Buzz Nation, would you pay $3 for air?

Keep your tires full and your wallet fuller.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GetGo charge for air?

Yes. GetGo's air machines now charge $3.

Where can I get free air for my tires near Lakewood and Rocky River?

West siders on Reddit recommend Conrad's in Lakewood, Eddy's Bike Shop in Rocky River and Sheetz. Policies vary by location, so call ahead if you're making a special trip. Many tire shops will also top off your tires if you ask.

Why does my tire pressure light come on when it gets cold?

Tires lose roughly 1 PSI for every 10-degree drop in temperature, so a cold morning can push pressure low enough to trigger the light even without a leak.

What PSI should my tires be?

Use the recommended pressure on the sticker inside your driver's door jamb, not the maximum printed on the tire. Check it when the tires are cold.