Tyre Pressure
Hand-held Tyre Pressure Machine
In addition to ensuring that your tyres meet the legal tread depth requirements, you also need to regularly check tyre pressure. It is an important part of total tyre maintenance. While you may not always see that your tyres are losing air, it generally goes down by up to two pounds per square inch (PSI) each month. This number tends to increase during warm weather which means more regular checks are required.
Why Is Tyre Pressure Important?
Did you know that one of the primary reasons tyres need replacing is due to uneven tread wear? Both under-inflated and over-inflated tyres can affect handling and grip, making your car unstable and increase braking distance. In many cases, low tyre pressure can wear out your tyres faster, resulting in increased rolling resistance, reduced fuel efficiency and increased emissions. It’s really important to keep your tyre pressure at the right level otherwise your car may behave erratically.
How Often Should I Check Tyre Pressure?
While some might think it depends on how often you drive, it may not be the same for everyone. To improve safety, ride comfort, and improved fuel economy, tyre experts recommend checking your tyre pressures at least once a month. If you drive more regularly, and in less than ideal weather and road conditions, you should check your tyres at least once a week.
Don’t forget to also check for visual tyre damage, tread depth, bulges, punctures or cuts. If you see a nail or screw lodged in your tyre, do not remove it as air could escape and you’ll be left with a flat. Instead, visit any of our Elite Garages for a FREE tyre check and we’ll even fix or replace it while you wait.
Under Inflated Tyres
Tyres can quickly become under inflated without regular tyre maintenance checks. Under inflated tyres will wear more on the edges of the tread especially when left unchecked for some time. This will result in uneven contact with the road and increases the rolling resistance of your tyres. Your vehicle’s performance will be affected in terms of higher fuel consumption, increased stopping distances and poor handling. The only outcome here is added risk and the increased likelihood of collisions.
Over Inflated Tyres
Over inflating your tyres can be just as damaging, dangerous and expensive. Over inflated tyres will have a smaller contact patch (where the tyre meets the road) which can lead to a loss of traction and poorer braking distances. Excessively inflated tyres will cause heavy and uneven wear across the central part of the tyre, leading to a much shorter lifespan.
All of this can be avoided through an effective tyre maintenance routine. Get them checked and fixed before it’s too late. You can find the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle in the owner’s manual, on the inside of the driver’s door or inside the petrol cap. Use a tyre pressure gauge if you have one or alternatively, visit any of our centres for a FREE tyre check.