Under-inflated tyres can bring unwanted costs for drivers but are also a serious hazard on the road. Therefore, it is essential to keep your vehicle’s tyres well maintained.
What is tyre pressure?
Tyre pressure refers to the amount of air inside a tyre.
Having less air inside the tyres means there is more rubber in contact with the road.
As a result, this will cause tyres to wear down more quickly, while also affecting grip and handling.
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Under-inflated tyres force the engine to work harder to overcome the resistance, leading to greater fuel consumption.
Your tyres will naturally deflate over time, so it is important to check the pressure regularly and top them up when required.
How to check tyre pressure
Motorists can check tyre pressure either at home, at a garage or at a fuel station.
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To check your tyre pressure at home, you’ll need a pressure gauge and a suitable pump.
Pressure can be read in both metric and imperial, so a gauge that matches the pressure information for your vehicle is required to avoid any confusion.
First, remove the tyre valve dust cap and place the gauge into the valve stem.
Ensure the gauge to connected correctly to get the most accurate reading.
You can now check the reading on the pressure gauge to see if it falls within the recommended tyre pressures for your vehicle, which can be found in the vehicle’s handbook.
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If the tyres need inflating, use an appropriate pump to increase the pressure.
To avoid over-inflation, add small amounts of air and continue to check the pressure with the gauge.
If you don’t have a gauge or a pump at home, you can take your vehicle to a local fuel station.
Most stations throughout the UK have this equipment in their forecourts.
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Motorists can also have their tyre pressures checked at a local garage.
A leading UK breakdown service advises checking the pressure of all tyres on your vehicle together, including the spare.
The RAC says: “Make sure you check all four tyres on your car as pressure in each of the four can often vary significantly.
“Don’t forget to check the spare tyre, either – this is often overlooked by motorists but you never know when you might need to use it, so keep it well maintained.”
The RAC also recommends checking tyre pressure every fortnight when the tyres are cold.
“Tyre pressures should be checked every week to ensure that you are not unknowingly driving on poorly inflated tyres and to help keep you safe on the roads,” the company said.
“You should always check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold — i.e. before you’ve made any journeys that day.
“This is because warm or hot tyres that have recently been driven on may give inaccurate pressure readings.”
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