What Happens If Tyre Pressure Is Too High?
The correct pressure for your vehicle's tyres is a critical safety issue. In fact, over- or under-inflating your tyres can cause serious problems, impacting handling and stability, and it can even lead to tyre failure. You should check regularly to see that your tyres are correctly inflated for the best performance and fuel efficiency.
If the pressure is too high, less of your tyre is actually making contact with the road and you'll be bouncing rather than sticking to the tarmac. This can affect handling and have an impact on stopping distances. You’ll also notice increased tyre wear across the middle of the tread meaning that you’ll have to replace your tyres more quickly.
Why should I keep my tyres at the right pressure?
Maintaining the correct pressure isn’t difficult to do and can save you money over the lifetime of your tyres. You’ll find the correct pressure in your owner's manual or in locations such as the driver’s side door jamb. Don’t use the pressure listed on the tyres themselves - that’s the maximum allowable pressure, not the recommended pressure.
You may need to inflate your tyres when your vehicle is carrying a full load of passengers and luggage. You should always check the pressure again after hauling a load to reduce the inflation back to the recommended pressure.
For everyday driving, the recommended pressure is the right choice. If you suspect the pressure is too high, check if your tyre is more worn down the middle. You’ll also notice that the ride is less comfortable than when the tyres are at the correct pressure as the sidewalls are stiff and rigid.
The right time to check your tyres
Checking your tyre pressure needs to be done when the tyre is completely cold, so the ideal time to check is first thing in the morning. You can purchase low-cost tyre gauges that can do the job. Most people check the pressure when they fill up at a service station but it’s important to let the tyres cool so you don’t end up with incorrect pressure.
You should check your tyres at least once a month and when the temperature changes by 10 degrees as this can also affect pressure readings. Remember to check all four tyres and to replace the tyre valve caps to keep out moisture, dirt, and dust. You should also check your spare tyre regularly to avoid any nasty surprises.
Check the pressure regularly and you’ll soon notice the difference every time you fill up as over- or under-inflated tyres can affect fuel efficiency.
Book in for your free tyre check at Protyre
If you’d prefer our tyre professionals to handle your tyre maintenance, why not book in for a free tyre check? Our expert fitters will check your tyre pressure plus tyre tread depth, damage, and wear to make sure that your tyres are safe, and legal.
If there are any issues, our qualified fitters will be able to offer advice as to how you can correct them. They can also recommend new tyres to suit your budget from our extensive range of budget, mid-range, and premium tyres from well-known brands including Pirelli, and Falken. Many tyres are available for same-day fitting for peace of mind motoring.