Tyre Pressure Guide

What Should my Tyre Pressure be?
Your tyre pressure should be a numerical value, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) or BAR pressure. Most passenger cars have a recommended PSI between 31 and 35 when the tyres are cold. But with so many different types of vehicles and tyre options you should always refer to your vehicle handbook for the required tyre pressure. Alternatively, you can search for your car registration on this page, and we’ll show you your recommended tyre pressure.

A tyre pressure under 20 PSI is considered a flat tyre and puts you at risk of a blowout. And if you’re using your vehicle for towing, you should again check your vehicle handbook for the correct laden pressure.

Search your car registration below to find out the recommend tyre pressure for your vehicle.

How to Check Your Tyre Pressure?

Using a tyre gauge is one of the quickest and easiest ways to check if your tyres are inflated correctly. Here’s how to check tyre pressure:

  • Remove the tyre valve dust cap and place the pressure gauge onto the valve.
  • Gently push the gauge down until you get your reading.
  • Check the reading to see whether you need to deflate or inflate your tyres.
  • Make sure you check all four tyres, as pressure in each tyre can vary.
  • And don’t forget to check the tyre pressure on your spare tyre too, as it will naturally lose pressure over time.

If you don’t have a tyre pressure gauge at home you can always visit your local HiQ centre where we’ll check your tyre pressure for you. Many fuel stations also offer an air pump service, with some services free.

Checking tyre pressure

When should tyre pressure be checked?

It’s very easy for tyres to become deflated if they aren’t checked regularly, so how often should you check tyre pressure? A tyre typically loses around 1 psi (0.07 bars) per month and this can result in uneven wearing of the tread, so we recommend checking your tyres every two weeks as well as before motorway driving and long journeys. Make it part of your tyre maintenance routine, as well as taking time to check your tyre’s tread depth and see if there’s any damage.

It’s best to check your tyre pressure when your tyres are cold, and by ‘cold’ we mean that you’ve driven no more than 2 miles before checking. If your tyres are warm, the pressure inside them increases so any change in pressure will probably be too low.

Something else to bear in mind is that cars manufactured after 2012 have an inbuilt Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). But how do tyre pressure sensors work? TPMS allows you to set your vehicle’s required tyre pressure and you’ll be alerted immediately if there’s any change in pressure.

Why is it important to check tyre pressures?

Checking your tyres is incredibly important for three main reasons:

Tyre safety

Tyre safety

Incorrect tyre pressure can affect handling. If you’re below your vehicle manufacturer guidelines, there’s an increase in the risk of aquaplaning as well as an increase in braking distance on dry roads.

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

You’ll reduce your running costs by keeping your tyres at the correct pressure. Underinflated tyres have to work a lot harder than properly inflated tyres as they’re met with an increased rolling distance, which then increases your vehicle’s fuel consumption.

Longevity

Longevity

Driving with the incorrect tyre pressure can lead to tyre deterioration and weakening of the reinforcing structure, and that dramatically reduces the lifespan of your tyres.

The importance of correctly inflated tyres

We get it. MOTs and car services are not the type of calendar events you look forward to. But if you look after your car, it’ll look after you. With HiQ, you’ve come to the right place. We’re all about doing things proper. So, whether it’s a minor service or a major one, we’ll see you right. And as we’re local, you can save on time and fuel miles.

Under Inflated Tyres

Tyres can quickly become underinflated if you don’t check them regularly enough. Driving with low tyre pressure for a long period of time will cause excessive wear on the inside and outside edges of the tread because of the uneven contact between tyre and road.

Underinflated tyres also increase rolling resistance, which means the fuel efficiency of your car is reduced as it uses more power to make up for the resistance. If your tyres need a little more air, use a suitable pump, adding small amounts of air at a time.

Over Inflated Tyres

Overinflated tyres can really impact the handling of your car. Tyres with too much air in them have less contact with the road, which means you’ll have longer braking distances and less traction. They’ll also be more sensitive to impacts which can have a knock-on effect to the way your suspension handles.

You’re likely to find overinflated tyres have heavy and uneven wear across the central part of the tyre, and that irregular wear leads to a shorter tyre lifespan compared to correctly inflated tyres.

Correctly inflated

Correctly inflated tyre

Under inflated

An under inflated tyre

Over inflated

An over inflated tyre

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

A tyre pressure monitoring system is a feature that alerts the driver that at least one of the tyres have become under-inflated on that vehicle. Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems monitor tyre pressure without the need of a gauge and advise motorists by showing an illuminated symbol on the dashboard panel.

Need some expert advice?

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i How to read tyre fitment