Where to check your tyre pressure
There are many reasons why ensuring your tyre pressure is correct is important. 1. Doing so will save you money in the long term, as incorrectly inflated tyres wear more quickly and require replacing more regularly. Correctly inflated tyres also allow your vehicle to travel more efficiently, increasing its fuel economy and requiring refuelling less often. 2. Secondly, correctly inflated tyres are safe tyres. By ensuring that your tyre pressure is correct for the vehicle that you drive and the road conditions that you encounter, your ability to steer, stop and handle the car is improved. Under or over-inflated tyres can affect the steering integrity of your vehicle, reduce its grip on the road and make for an uncomfortable driving experience. 3. The final benefit of correctly inflated tyres is that your vehicle will emit fewer CO2 emissions, contributing to a healthier environment.
What is the correct tyre pressure for my car?
Now that we've established why the correct tyre pressure is so important, how do you know what the correct tyre pressure is for your vehicle? In our experience, the easiest way to determine the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is to review the guidance provided in the manufacturer's handbook.
If you do not have a manufacturer's handbook for your vehicle, check for a sticker on the inside of the fuel cap, or inside the driver or passenger door. This sticker will usually contain useful information such as the chassis number, but also a tyre pressure chart for the vehicle, recorded in pounds per square inch (PSI) or Bar. It may advise different tyre pressures for the front and rear tyres.
If you cannot easily identify what your tyre pressure should be, your local Protyre garage will be very happy to help you. Our tyre professionals are often asked "what should my tyre pressure be?" and "What PSI should my tyres be?" so don't be afraid to ask these questions of them! The only way to learn is by asking, and our tyre experts are always happy to help.
Using their experience and expertise, they will be able to determine quickly what your ideal tyre pressure is and to check it for you. They will also show you how to check tyre pressure so that you can confidently do so yourself in the future, should you wish to.
A Protyre tyre pressure check is always free of charge and can be booked online at a time and place to suit you. Your safety is our priority, so if you have any concerns about your tyre pressure and do not know where to start, we will be happy to help you.
How to check your tyre pressure
You can either buy a tyre pressure gauge, use a foot pump or electric pump with a built in tyre pressure gauge or use the tyre inflator at your local garage, which will again display your current tyre pressure.
Each of these functions in the same manner, and all should be used on cold tyres. This is because as tyres heat up, the air particles within them expand, and this will present a false (high) reading, which would be misleading and result in you allowing air out and then driving on under-inflated tyres.
First, remove the dust caps from your tyres and store them safely in your pocket. It is not recommended that you place them on the ground as they could get lost or damaged or dirt court become engrained, which could damage their thread and make it difficult to re-fit them.
Fit your gauge onto the tyre valve, and your tyre pressure will be displayed for you. On a digital machine, it will be presented in a simple numerical format, whilst an analogue or dial pressure gauge will present the tyre pressure using a marker to indicate the tyre pressure against a scale.
If your tyres are under-inflated, you should inflate them to the correct pressure. Likewise, if they are over-inflated, you should let some air escape until they are reading at the correct value.
When should I check my tyre pressure?
It is recommended that you check your tyre pressure on at least a monthly basis, although if you are using your vehicle regularly, you may wish to check it as often as every other week. You should always check the condition of your tyres, their tread depth and air pressure before every long journey or if you are planning to use your vehicle to tow a trailer or caravan.
Your vehicle manufacturer may recommend a different tyre pressure for circumstances when your vehicle will be heavily loaded or used for towing, so always check and never assume. If you are planning to tow, you should also check the tyre condition, tread depth and tyre pressures of the trailer or caravan that you will be towing to ensure that it is safe and roadworthy.
My vehicle is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system, does that exempt me from checking it?
Many modern vehicles are fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which is designed to alert drivers to variations in tyre pressure outside of manufacturer approved parameters. These systems are designed to optimise your fuel consumption and handling and to improve the safety of the driver, their passengers and other road users.
A malfunctioning TPMS is an MOT failure, so it is recommended that you regularly check your tyre pressures manually to ensure that they are within manufacturer approved parameters rather than relying entirely on the electronic system to do this for you. Not only will this ensure that you are driving on correctly inflated tyres but it will also act as an early warning of any electronics failures, allowing you to have it rectified at the earliest possible opportunity.
Help is available -The local garage you can trust
If you are struggling to check your car tyre pressure, or find that your tyres are losing pressure more quickly than you would expect them to, visit your local Protyre garage, where our expert fitters will inspect your tyres for signs of damage, check the tyre pressure with a correctly calibrated tyre pressure checker and identify the cause of your problems.
They may, in some instances, recommend tyre replacement where the tyre is damaged beyond repair or at end of life, in which case you will be offered a choice of tyres from our comprehensive range, which includes budget brands through to leading manufacturers such as Sumitomo and Bridgestone.
To start the process, why not book a free tyre check online today? We look forward to helping you to stay safe on the road.
