How to Check Your Tyre Pressure

If you check your tyre pressure less than every 4 weeks, then this blog will change the way you check your tyres forever.

It can be easy to overlook checking your tyres, especially when your tyres appear to be running smoothly and look to be in tip-top condition. But, in some instances, you may not notice any problems before it’s too late. 

If your tyres are below the recommended tyre pressure this will produce a safety hazard to yourself and your passengers, as there will be an increased probability of tyre failure. You can lower this potential risk and save yourself money by simply ensuring your tyres are inflated correctly by doing a tyre pressure check.

Under-inflated tyres

Tyres lose around two pounds of air per month. This results in your tyres rapidly becoming under-inflated if you don’t check them once a month. The shape of an under-inflated tyre means it has uneven contact with the ground, and if it’s left under-inflated, your tyres will begin to wear down on the outside and inside edges of the tread.

You’ll also experience worsened rolling resistance with the road. You may not initially notice this added resistance whilst driving, but your miles to the gallon will decrease, which will cost you more pounds in the long run.

Under-inflated tyres will also affect your steering. If it’s your front tyres, you could experience under-steering, whereas under-inflated rear tyres could increase over-steering.

If all your tyres are under-inflated, your steering will become heavy and resistant. Not only that but being under-inflated raises the likelihood of them blowing out. If that doesn’t persuade you to get your tyres pumped, we don’t know what will!

Over-inflated tyres

You’re more likely to understand the dangers of an under-inflated tyre. However, when it comes to an over-inflated tyre, the risks often go unnoticed, as people may say: “Over-inflated tyres aren’t that dangerous? The tyres will deflate on their own to the correct tyre pressure level.” 

This mind-set is dangerous, as over-inflating your tyres can be just as costly and damaging, which can often lead to an earlier tyre replacement. As under-inflated tyres do, over-inflated tyres have less contact with the road, which means that your tyres will have less traction, which results in a further braking distance.  

As the centre of the tyre is the only area that is making contact with the road, your tyres will wear heavily and unevenly across the centre of the tyre. Therefore, your tyres won’t last as long, which will mean you’ll have to buy replacement tyres much more frequently than you need to. 

How to know if your tyre is under-inflated or over-inflated

Noticing signs of an under/over-inflated tyre is easy when you know what to look for. Incorrectly inflated tyres will have increased wear at the areas in which the tyre has been in contact with the road, the centre of the tyre (over-inflated) or the edges of the tread (under-inflated). A tyre that has been correctly inflated with the appropriate tyre pressure will wear equally across the tread.

The law requires that the minimum tyre tread depth of your tyre must be 1.6mm. This is located across the central ¾ of the tyre, in a complete circumference around the tyre.  

How to find out what your car’s tyre pressure is 

Before you come to check your tyres’ pressure, you’ll need to find out what your vehicle’s correct tyre pressure is. In the handbook for your vehicle, there will be the appropriate tyre pressures for your vehicle, in some vehicles, you’ll be able to find the tyre pressure recommendations located in the driver’s door. 

Nitrogen Tyre Inflation

We at DA Techs prioritise driver’s safety. We offer nitrogen tyre inflation that improves your tyres’ life and reduces air loss!

Call today to book your tyres in for a Nitrogen Tyre Inflation on 01204 859045