How often should you check tyre pressure?
There are few car maintenance routines more important than checking your tyres and few easier to perform. Our tyre professionals, along with the AA, the RAC, Pirelli and Bridgestone, advise drivers to check tyre condition and pressure once a fortnight. At the very least you should correct their pressure monthly, as well as before and after long journeys or whenever you add/remove a significantly heavy load from the vehicle.
Why it matters
The most important reason is safety. Tyre damage, wear and incorrect inflation all increase the likelihood of a blowout with subsequent loss of control. However, even without a blowout, these factors impair the steering, braking and stability of the vehicle.
Incorrect air pressure, whether too high or too low, causes tyre deformation and impairs fuel efficiency. So, as well as putting you and your passengers at risk it reduces the longevity of your tyres and increases your fuel costs.
Steering or suspension issues can be a cause of uneven tyre wear, so by checking tyres frequently the wear will alert you that something is wrong and you can have the issue dealt with before the damage becomes costly.
Checking the pressure in your tyres
You can find the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle in your user manual and they are often printed somewhere on your vehicle, for example inside the door jamb, under the petrol cap or sometimes in the glove compartment. Often different pressures will be specified for front and rear tyres and for regular or fully loaded driving.
The majority of petrol stations have air pressure equipment you can use. You can also buy a pressure gauge cheaply or get completely free checks from our qualified fitters at your nearest Protyre garage. It is important to check your pressures when the tyres are cold, before you set off on a journey.
Remove the dust cap from the tyre valve and push the gauge onto the stem firmly but evenly. The reading on the gauge will tell you if the pressure is low or high. You can now operate the pump, if necessary, in a similar way. Also check the spare wheel if you have one.
If any tyre is reading at a significantly lower pressure it should be investigated. It could be caused by the tyre valve, a slow puncture, or because the rubber has perished. Book a free tyre check at your local Protyre by clicking the button below.
Checking your tread depth
It is common sense to check your tyre condition each time you check your tyre pressures. Look for tears, uneven wear, excessive wear, bulges, stones or nails in the tread, and for cracks due to weathering.
Our tyre professionals, as well as the AA and the RAC, will tell you that the minimum legal tread depth of 1.6mm is NOT the minimum safe tread depth. In fact, tyre performance, such as when under braking, measurably deteriorates once your tread reaches 3mm deep. We strongly recommend replacing your tyres when they are down to 3mm in depth.
Book with Protyre
All Protyre garages carry a great range of premium and budget tyres from brands including Pirelli, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Avon, Falken and Sumitomo, and we can offer same-day fitting in many cases. Browse them on our website or ask for advice at any of our garages.
