Checking your tyre pressure is the cheapest, quickest thing you can do for your safety, your fuel bills and how long your tyres last - and it is the one thing almost everyone forgets.
There is no single number - it is set by your car maker, not the tyre. You will usually find it on a sticker (placard) in the driver's door shut or on the fuel filler flap, and in the handbook. Many cars list two figures: a normal pressure and a higher one for when the car is fully laden with passengers and luggage. Pressure is shown in PSI (pounds per square inch) or bar - and 1 bar is roughly 14.5 PSI.
Tyres warm up as you drive, and warm air expands, so a tyre checked hot will read higher than it really is. Always check "cold" - before you set off, or after driving less than a couple of miles - so you are setting the true pressure against the recommended figure.
At least monthly, and before long trips or when carrying a heavy load. Most modern cars also have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that warns you when a tyre drops - but that is a backstop, not a substitute for a monthly manual check.
“It is the cheapest, easiest thing you can do for your safety and your wallet, and it is the one thing almost everyone forgets. Five minutes with a gauge once a month saves you money on fuel and tyres - and could save you a lot more than that in the wet.”
It's set by your car maker - check the sticker in the driver's door shut or fuel flap, or the handbook. Many cars list a normal and a fully-laden figure.
Cold - before driving or after less than a couple of miles. Heat raises the reading and gives a false figure.
At least once a month, and before long journeys or when carrying a heavy load.
Yes - it shrinks the contact patch (less grip, longer braking), wears the centre of the tread and gives a harsher ride.
Yes - under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and fuel use, so correct pressures cut your fuel bills.
Call now for a fast, no-obligation quote - or drop your details in and we'll come back to you.
07772 078 648We'll call you back as soon as we can. For anything urgent, call 07772 078 648.
Your tyre size is printed on the sidewall of the tyre - a string like 205/55 R16 91V. Here's what each number and letter means.
Please take the size from the exact tyre(s) you want replacing - front and rear sizes can differ.