How to check your tyre pressure and why it's important

Yet, for some motorists, checking their tyre pressure isn’t something they think about between one MOT and the next.

Poorly maintained tyres can lead to avoidable garage costs and, in the worst-case scenarios, even a breakdown or serious collision.

It’s vitally important that we take care of our tyres, so that they can take care of us. To make this easier, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to check your tyre pressure.

Before you start, make sure you’re using a pressure gauge that uses the same unit of measurement as the pressure guidelines given for your car.

Once you’ve got a suitable pressure gauge:

1. Remove the valve dust cap from the tyre valve and place the pressure gauge onto the tyre valve stem
2. Press down the gauge evenly on the valve stem to ensure you get an accurate reading
3. Check the reading on the pressure gauge to determine if you’ll need to deflate or inflate your tyres
4. If your tyres need inflating, use a suitable pump and avoid over-inflation by adding small amounts of air at a time 
5. If your tyres need deflating, use the tip of a flat-head screwdriver to push on the metal pin on the valve stem to release air
6. Take regular measurements with the pressure gauge between inflating and deflating   

Make sure you check all four tyres on your car, as pressure in each tyre can vary significantly. 

Don’t forget to check the spare tyre as well. This is often overlooked, and you never know when you might need to use it. 

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The entire weight of your vehicle is supported by your tyres’ air pressure. As tyres naturally lose a little bit of air every month, it’s essential to check your tyre pressure on a regular basis.

Tyre pressure affects a vehicle’s performance in a lot of key handling and safety areas, such as how quickly you can brake, your accuracy in handling corners, and the general comfort of your drive.

Fuel consumption is also affected by tyre pressure. A deformed tyre can increase your car’s resistance with the road, meaning your fuel will be working harder and costing you more.

Experts predict that correctly inflated tyres can even improve your mileage per tank by up to 3% - so it makes economic sense too.

There are two systems used to measure tyre pressure: bar (metric) and pounds per square inch or PSI (imperial).

These are usually quoted together in user handbooks or tyre pressure stickers.

1 Bar = 14.5 PSI if you need to convert.

At petrol stations you’ll almost always be able to select the correct pressure based on either of these measurements. A good home pressuriser will display both numbers on their gauge too.

This depends on your vehicle and tyre.

Most cars come with a sticker somewhere on their bodywork that tells you the correct tyre pressure. This can usually be found on the inside of your door, on the part of the vehicle body that is hidden from view when the door is closed.

If your car doesn’t have a sticker, then refer to the owner's handbook.

Information on the correct pressure will be provided in relation to various loadings (two occupants, four occupants, etc), so it’s important you pick the one that suits your needs.

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Tyre pressure should be checked once a month to be sure you’re not driving on inadequately-inflated tyres.

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.

Yes. If you don’t have a pressure gauge or tyre pump at home, head down to a local petrol station that does. On most forecourts you’ll be able to find both a pressure gauge (that gives readings in bar and PSI) and an air pump.

Air pumps at fuel stations are often more complex than the ones you might have at home, and many come with +/- buttons that enable you to set the pressure as needed.

There will often be a third button which provides a ‘rapid fill’ if your tyre is particularly low on air.

You should be able to find the recommended pressure for your tyres on a small sticker on your bodywork, or in the vehicle handbook.

Alternatively, you could use online tools such as tyrepressures.com.

Keep an eye out for different pressures between tyres, and be aware that you may need extra inflation on rear tyres if you frequently travel with heavy luggage or rear seat passengers.

Slow punctures release air from your tyre at a much slower rate than traditional punctures, and can go unnoticed for longer periods of time. 

If enough air is released your tyre will eventually lose pressure and become unsafe.

There are a few tell-tale signs that you may have a slow puncture:

1. Debris stuck in the tyre – the most obvious sign, look out for screws or any other debris piercing your tyres
2. Pulled steering – if you loosen your grip on the steering wheel on a flat road you might notice your car pulls to the side
3. Vibrating steering wheel – your steering wheel can become unbalanced causing the controls to vibrate, particularly when travelling at a high speed
4. Poor handling – your vehicle doesn’t feel as responsive when turning or your suspension feels harder than usual
5. Worn tyre sidewall – the sidewalls on low-pressure tyres often come into contact with the road, leading to damage over time
6. Misshapen tyre – a tyre that appears out of shape when compared with others usually indicates a change in pressure
7. Clicking sounds – if you notice a clicking sound that increases with your speed, you might be hearing debris stuck in the tyre making contact with the road

How do slow punctures happen?

Slow punctures are usually caused by a sharp object piercing the tyre, or the impact of driving over a pothole or raised kerb. A faulty valve can also lead to air leaks.

Regular checks will help you notice any punctures before they become too serious. LINK

Driving with a slow puncture

While it’s possible to drive with a slow puncture, doing so increases the chances of the puncture growing in size and releasing more air.

The increasing loss of pressure will eventually affect your car’s handling and safety before your tyre becomes completely flat.

Slow puncture repair 

Although puncture repair kits are widely available, they should only be used as a temporary fix.

They usually come with a glue that’s fed through the valve and then drawn to the puncture, acting as a sealant.

If you suspect you have a slow puncture it’s best to get the help of a professional.

Should I replace my tyre for a slow puncture?

Some slow punctures can be repaired, avoiding the need to replace the tyre completely.

In many cases, garages are able to repair minor damage or simply replace a faulty valve to save on the costs of a new tyre.

A number of factors will determine how long a tyre lasts. Tyre design and quality, driver habits, road condition and climate all make a difference.

Michelin suggests you should check your tyres thoroughly at least once a year after five years of use. It also advises replacing 10-year-old tyres, even if they appear in a good state. 

You can find the manufacturing date of your tyre using its DOT code, found on the sidewall. Look out for the letters DOT and a set of numbers, the last four digits indicate the manufacture date to the nearest week. 

For example, a tyre reading ‘DOT XXXXXXX3116’ will have been made in the 31st week of 2016.

As a general rule, front tyres will last around 20,000 miles, while those at the rear could last 40,000.

Should I get an air compressor?

Air compressors are a great option if you prefer to inflate your tyres away from a petrol station forecourt.

They often come in a compact size with readings given in both PSI and bar measurements. If you think you might need to inflate your car away from home, you can always find models that are powered through your car’s cigarette lighter socket. 

Take a look at the RAC’s Compact Air Compressor.

Low tyre pressure

Allowing tyre pressure to run low increases the contact area between your tyres and the road. This leads to:

1. Increased resistance – more fuel is needed to turn your wheels as your engine has to work harder
2. Uneven wear – the added friction from the large contact area leads to premature wear to the edge of the tyres
3. Reduced brake efficiency – braking time will increase when pressure is low
4. More punctures – tyres filled with less air are more prone to punctures

Can I drive on a tyre with low pressure?

It may be possible to drive on a tyre with low pressure, but you could find your driving seriously affected.

Expect less responsive handling, heavier turning and a tougher time controlling your vehicle in general. The problems will only escalate with further driving and could have an impact on your safety.

Taking your tyre to a professional as soon as possible could be the difference in paying £20 for a repair job or £200 for a replacement.

High tyre pressure

What happens if tyre pressure is too high?

For many drivers it’s tempting to inflate tyres beyond the recommended measurements to delay a future top-up. 

However, an excessively-inflated tyre has a smaller area of contact with the road and can be very unsafe. You can expect:

1. Loss of control – reduced contact with the road can seriously affect handling, especially when speeding around corners or on wet, slippery surfaces
2. Reduced brake efficiency – the smaller contact area means tyres have to work harder to grip the road when braking, over-inflated tyres tend to skid more too
3. Uneven wear – the middle of over-inflated tyres bulge and carry a heavier share of the car’s weight, leading to premature and uneven wear 

Does higher tyre pressure give better mileage?

Although low-pressure tyres have a negative effect on your mileage, it’s wrong to assume that over-inflating your tyres will improve fuel efficiency.

High pressure tyres become stiff and require more fuel to navigate bumps and irregularities in the road. 

It’s best to avoid sharp and sudden braking, change gears smoothly and make regular maintenance checks to get the most of the petrol in your tank.

Where can I check my tyre pressure and get air for free? 

A number of garages, including some of the big chains, offer a free tyre-checking service for your car including pressure readings. You’ll have to ask if they can inflate your tyres too. 

Alternatively, a number of petrol stations will offer the services at little or no cost.