Final answer:
You should not let air out of hot tires to bring the pressure back to normal. Tire pressure measurements should be taken when the tires are cold, as heat increases the pressure inside the tire, and releasing air would lead to underinflation when the tires cool down.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether you should let air out of hot tires to normalize the pressure is a common concern in vehicle maintenance and is related to the principles of physics involving gas behavior. The correct answer is b) False. You should not let air out of hot tires to bring the pressure back to normal because tire pressure is specified for cold tires. When air is pumped into a tire, according to Figure 13.18, the volume increases without much pressure increase at first. Once the tire becomes more rigid, the pressure then increases significantly as more air is added. As the tire's temperature rises, whether due to air being pumped in or from exposure to the sun, the pressure inside the tire also increases. If you were to let air out when the tires are hot, when they cool down, the pressure would be too low, potentially leading to underinflation, which can affect the handling of the vehicle and reduce fuel efficiency.