Checking the tyre pressure on your car is an easy job you can do yourself at home with little equipment. Underinflated or overinflated tyres can be a problem. Not only can they affect your driving and stopping distances but they can be costing you more money in fuel! To ensure your tyres are inflated to the right level, you can learn how to check your tyre pressure in our handy guide below.
Why is the correct tyre pressure important?
Naturally, your tyres will lose pressure as you drive around but your tyre pressure needs to support the weight of your vehicle so it’s really important! Under-inflated tyres can affect your ability to brake on time, increase fuel consumption, affect your steering and can delay the lifespan of your tyres. Many drivers may inflate their tyre pressure and think over-inflation is a good thing. However, overinflating your tyres beyond the recommended PSI (pound-force per square inch) can mean less traction when driving, increase wear and tear on the tyre and lack of stability. Adjusting your tyres to the correct pressure can be an easy job and save you money in the long run!
When should tyre pressure be checked?
It’s natural for your tyres to lose pressure whilst you’re driving around so we recommend checking your tyre pressure once a month to make sure they’re in the best condition they can be.
How to check tyre pressure:
1. Find a suitable pressure gauge.
You cna check your tyre pressure at home by purchasing a tyre pressure gauge for around £10. Alternatively, you can check your tyre pressure at many local garages or supermarkets for as little as 50p. Once at the supermarket, you can then also increase or decrease the pressure of each tyre.
2. Find out what your tyre pressure (PSI) is meant to be.
You can find out the recommended pressure for each of your tyres by looking at the driver’s side door. It is normally displayed on the inside and will be a number. If not, you can find out by referring to your car’s handbook or owner’s manual.
3. Remove the valve dust cap.
Locate the value dust cap on the tyre and take off the dust cap to expose the valve stem.
4. Use the gauge to find the current tyre pressure.
Place the pressure gauge on top of the valve stem a wait a couple of seconds. The tyre pressure gauge will then display what your current PSI of the tyre is. You should write this down and then continue to check each tyre.
5. Inflate or deflate your tyres as required.
If you need to inflate your tyres, you can do this by using a suitable air compressor or if you are at a garage or supermarket, the machine can do this for you. Simply follow the instruction on the screen until the PSI reaches the required amount. If you need to deflate any of your tyres to the recommended PSI, simply press the valve stem inwards and let some air out.
If you’re unsure about any of the steps listed above or don’t feel confident enough, please take your car to a trusted garage to have your tyre pressure checked for you.
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