Tyres make up an integral part of the automobile, considering they are in contact with the road at all times. Going through constant friction, your tyres do put up with a lot. Surprisingly enough, many car owners do not pay attention to this very vital part.

If you’re going from one MOT to another servicing session without paying much heed to the tyre pressure, you’re making the car vulnerable to breakdowns and collisions. In addition to this, an unserviced tyre can lead to a hole in the pocket. 

In this article, we are going to discuss how to check tyre pressure and everything related to it to give you a clear picture. 

Let’s get started. 

What is tyre pressure?

To put it simply, the air inside the tyre is what creates the pressure, hence the term tyre pressure. As you continue using the tyre, the air decreases, and with it, the pressure decreases too. This leads to more of the rubber part of the tyre coming in direct contact with the road. 

If you keep driving your car with low tyre pressure, it can degrade further leading to wearing down of the tyre and even affecting the grip and handling of your vehicle. It will also lead to an increase in fuel consumption as the engines will have to struggle to overcome the resistance of the tyre. As time passes, your tyres will start losing air, making it very dangerous to drive on the road. 

Why is Tyre Pressure Important?

Tyre Pressure is essential as it affects many other factors and also supports the entire weight of the vehicle. As you keep driving your car, your tyres lose a little bit of air every month, demanding a regular check-up. 

Tyre Pressure also affects the overall performance of the vehicle, which includes key handling, safety area, brake efficiency, accuracy, and driving comfort. Moreover, it also leads to lesser fuel efficiency as the car is working harder to accommodate the increased resistance to the road, thereby raising your fuel budgets.

A tyre with correct and accurate pressure improves your fuel economy by 3%! Now that should get you interested.

| Also Read: What are the Different Types of Car Repair Services? |

How to check the tyre pressure?

Checking the tyre pressure isn’t a very hard process. You don’t need to have very deep knowledge or know all the jargon related to the automobile industry. The only tip that you have to keep in mind before starting with the process is to use a pressure gauge that is using the same unit of measurement as given by the car’s guideline. You can find these guidelines in the user manual or a sticker stuck somewhere on the bodywork of your car. 

Once you’re prepared, start with the process.

1. The first step on how to check the tyre pressure is to remove the valve dust cap that sits on the tyre valve. Instead, place the pressure gauge onto the tyre valve stem. 
2. Make sure you’re pressing down on the gauge evenly to allow you to get an accurate reading. 
3. Based on the reading that you get on the pressure gauge, decide whether you need to inflate or deflate your tyres. 
4. In case it lacks pressure, inflate it using a pump and add a small amount of air, ensuring you don’t over-inflate it. 
5. If it is demanding deflation, make use of a flat-head screwdriver to present some force on the metal pin on the valve stem. This will help to release the air. 
6. While you’re following the process of inflation and deflation, make use of the pressure gauge, taking regular measurement and avoiding any mistakes. 
7. While doing so, check all the four tyres and the spare one to be on the cautious side. 

Tyre Pressure – The correct measurement

If you’re confused about the measurement system of the tyre pressure, let me clarify this for you. There are two measurement systems; the bar (metric) and the pounds per square inch or better known as PSI (Imperial).

Your car handbook or manual, or the sticker on your vehicle’s bodywork has both of these mentioned for easy understanding. 

If you’re looking to convert, 1 Bar = 14.5 PSI. 

| Also Read: Car Servicing 101: Top Benefits of Regular Car Servicing |

When should I check my tyre pressure?

Ideally, you’re supposed to check for the tyre pressure every month to ensure you’re not driving with incorrect pressure. If you’re looking for the correct time to check the tyre pressure, try to do it before you start for the day on cold tyres. This is recommended as warm or hot tyres that are driven around may not give the correct reading. 

What should my tyre pressure be?

This is the second most asked question after how to check tyre pressure. There is usually a sticker on the bodywork of your car, mostly on the inside of the door which tells you the accurate tyre pressure for your tyre. If you cannot find it, there is always the manufacturer’s handbook or the manual that you can refer to.

This brings us to the end of our blog on how to check tyre pressure. Hope this was helpful. If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to comment below.

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