How to Check Your Tyre Pressure and Why It's Important

When was the last time you checked your tyre pressure? If you’re not sure, then it may be something to add to the to-do list.

Tyres aren’t cheap, meaning it’s a good idea to take care of them and make them last as long as possible. When checking the air in your tyres, you are measuring the force being exerted within the tyres using the pounds per square inch unit of measurement, or PSI for short.

There are many benefits of maintaining the recommended tyre pressure, but how will you know the correct PSI, and how do you fill it yourself?

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about your tyre pressure and provided step-by-step instructions so you can check and fill them safely.

Why Is Your Tyre Pressure Important?

Safety

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is pivotal to staying safe on the road. If your tyres are underinflated, the vehicle's handling becomes weaker and braking becomes less effective. In wet weather, underinflation makes these issues more dangerous as you will be more likely to lose control or aquaplane.

Overinflated tyres are too stiff, and this too jeopardises your handling, especially at high speed. Plus, too much air in a tyre will mean it overheats, increasing the risk of a tyre blowout. This is understandably dangerous, but also expensive.

Tyre Endurance

You want your tyres to last as long as possible to avoid the expensive task of replacing them. Whether you over or underinflate a tyre, it will reduce the tyre's longevity by increasing the wear in one place, while lowering the wear in another place. For example, if you overinflate a tyre, the inner strip of the tyre will ‘bulge’ more than the shoulders, increasing the wear in the middle of the tyre.

If a tyre is underinflated, the outer edges of the tyre will be spending more time on the road, wearing them out faster.

Fuel Economy

Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which requires the engine to work harder and consume more fuel to maintain required speeds. With fuel prices higher than ever, this isn’t ideal!

How Often Should You Check Your Tyre Pressure?

The answer to this varies depending on the tyre dimensions and the weight they are carrying, but ideally, you should check your tyre pressure at least once a month or prior to embarking on a long trip.

So, if you can’t remember the last time you checked, it probably means you should check as soon as possible.

What’s Your Optimal Pressure?

The answer to this also varies depending on the type of car; however, most passenger cars should have a reading of 32 to 35 PSI when the tyres are cold. If you check your tyres after a long drive, the PSI may read higher than it should because the tyres have experienced friction on the road, which causes air to heat up and expand.

There are some scenarios where you should deflate or inflate the air to a level outside of the recommended range.

For example, if you are carrying a heavy load such as a bulky trailer, it is usually recommended to inflate your tyre pressure to slightly higher than the recommended amount. You should consult the vehicle handbook for accurate specifications.

If you enjoy getting off the road, it’s recommended to lower your tyre pressure to minimise the risk of a puncture. Less tyre pressure allows tyres to manoeuvre over rocks or other debris easier and allows more flexibility if passing over a sharp surface. Not to mention, deflated tyres would provide less impact and shaking on the car when driving over bumps.

If ever you adjust your tyre pressure for a unique scenario, it’s important to revert the pressure back to the recommendation as soon as conditions are back to normal.

How Do You Check and Fill Your Tyre Pressure?

Find Your Recommended Pressure

This is usually found on the inside of the driver’s side door frame, in the car’s manual or in the glove box. You will see the recommendations for front and rear tyres using a number range in PSI.

Check Pressure of All Wheels

You will need a tyre pressure gauge or an automatic air compressor – petrol stations have the facilities to check and fill tyre pressure free of charge. Follow the instructions on your equipment as they may differ slightly. These are the steps to reading the tyre pressure:

1. On one tyre only, unscrew the tyre valve cap and attach the pressure gauge or hose to the valve.

2. Check the PSI reading on the machine and compare to the recommended tyre pressure range.

3. Reseal the valve, unless inflating/deflating tyres. Repeat on the other tyres.

Fill Tyres to the Ideal PSI

Follow the instructions on the compressor, although most systems should follow these steps:

1. Enter the ideal air temperature on the compressor.

2. Unscrew the valve on the tyre.

3. Push the hose from the air compressor onto the valve and hold tight.

4. If using an automatic system, it may start inflating right away; otherwise, press the button to begin. Release the hose and reseal the valve after hearing the beep.

5. If using a manual compressor, press the lever to allow the air to flow in a short burst before releasing. Repeat this process and check the air pressure regularly between bursts. When the tyre reaches the correct pressure, reseal the valve.

6. If accidentally overinflated, push on the core of the valve with a fingernail or key before checking the pressure again.

Do Your Tyres Need More Than Air?

Gino’s Panel and Paint are the specialists in every aspect of car repairs in Perth. Based in South Fremantle, the team has been delivering outstanding customer service to clients for almost 50 years.

With a wide range of wheel and tyre services including inspections, puncture repairs, alignments and more, Gino’s has got you covered. Get in touch with the friendly team today to ensure your tyres are looking after you.