The summer holidays are less than 10 weeks away and in order to keep your car running smoothly it’s important to check your tyre pressure. The correct tyre pressures not only improves how your car drives but it's vital to your safety on the road.
If your car has under-inflated tyres this can impact handling and grip, potentially causing irregular or unpredictable vehicle behaviour. Your car will also use more fuel due to the bigger force required to make them turn.
By keeping your tyres at their optimum pressure you can expect increased safety, lower fuel bills, a longer tyre life and reduced CO2 emissions. It is recommended that tyre pressures are checked at least once a month and before a long journey.
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The correct way to check your tyre pressure is by using a tyre pressure gauge. Before you start you will need to check your manufacturer’s pressure per square inch (PSI) in order to know if any tyres are under or over inflated.
Once you’ve checked the PSI, remove the valve cap from the tyre and insert the pressure gauge. Press the gauge onto the valve stem until the hissing sound ends and the gauge gives a reading. Keep a note of the reading and then repeat for the other tyres.
If tyres are over-inflated, you can press the metal pin with a screwdriver inside of the valve stem to let air out. If tyres are under-inflated, press an air-compressor hose onto the valve stem and fill until the right PSI.
Your vehicle’s handbook should tell you what level of pressure you should have in your tyres. It can sometimes be found in the fuel filler flap or on the drivers’ door edge. The pressure should be taken only when the tyres are cold, ideally a car that hasn’t been driven for at least two hours.
If you’re unable to find the correct tyre pressure, the vehicle manufacturer’s customer services team can help you out. You will need a note of the size of the tyres fitted as well as the make and model of your vehicle.
