Tyre Pressure Guide

Optimum Tyre Pressures Provide:

• Increased safety
• More predictable road handling
• Reduced fuel consumption
• Reduced emissions

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.

When Should Tyre Pressures 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 Pressure?

Checking your tyres is incredibly important for three main reasons:

• 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 - 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 - 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.

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.