Does Sinclair have free air?

Sinclair and air

Sinclair sells the fuel and the sign, but almost every Sinclair station is owned by an independent dealer or a regional fuel company. Whether air is free, coin-operated or missing is the owner's call, not Sinclair's.

Sinclair stations are often the only fuel stop in small towns across Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. Mountain driving and cold nights change tire pressure quickly, so it is worth checking at every longer stop.

How to use the air at Sinclair

1. Find your target pressure on the sticker inside the driver's door, not the maximum on the tire.
2. Park so the hose reaches all four tires and unscrew the valve caps.
3. If the machine asks for coins, ask the cashier whether they can switch it to free.
4. Fill in short bursts until the reading matches, then put the caps back on.

Free by law in California and Connecticut

101 of the Sinclair locations on our map (19 %) are in California or Connecticut. There, gas stations have to give free air: in California to customers who buy fuel, in Connecticut to anyone while the station is open. If the machine asks for coins, ask the cashier to switch it on.

Cold weather and your tires

Most Sinclair locations on our map are in California, where the average temperature drops from about 78 °F in July to 46 °F in January (NOAA). Tire pressure falls roughly 1 PSI for every 10 °F, so tires set correctly in summer are about 3 PSI low by midwinter. Check them monthly, and always when the low-pressure light comes on.