Having the correct pressure in your tyres ensures a longer life expectancy of the tyres and better fuel efficiency not to mention a better grip of the road surface ensuring better safety.  

Ideally, you should familiarise yourself with the correct pressure for your vehicle by reading the user manual and check the pressures regularly, say once a month, and before any long journeys.  This also includes the spare tyre.  

It is best to check the pressures when the tyres are cold, however, if this is not possible, add approximately 5 psi to the recommended pressures.

If you are unsure or not confident in checking the pressures, please feel free to call into us for a free check by one of our experienced tyre technicians.

Not only can low pressure lead to the overheating of the tyre, possibly causing it to burst, but the lack of pressure can result in the vehicle understeering (front tyres) or oversteering (rear tyres) causing a safety hazard.

If your tyres are suffering from a significantly quick or regular loss of pressure it is advisable to have the condition of the tyres checked. 

Get a grip on tyre pressures!

Maximum grip on the road is vital for road safety. This can only be achieved with the correct pressure in your tyres. The diagram below shows how much grip a tyre has on the road depending on its pressure.

Tyre pressures - top tips

1 - Safety

Under inflated tyres can not only overheat increasing the chances of it bursting, but also lead to poor handling of your vehicle. Low pressure on the front axle will increase under steer (fig. 1) whereas low pressure on the rear axle will increase over steer (fig. 2).

2 - Economy

Over inflated and under inflated tyres suffer more damage than those with the correct pressure and need to be changed more often. Even 60% inflation, which is not uncommon, can increase tyre wear and significantly shorten the life of the tyre. Vehicles with under inflated tyres have increased rolling resistance that requires more fuel to maintain the same speed.

3 - Environment

Correct tyre pressure helps to maintain optimum fuel efficiency. This equates to lower CO2 emissions from your vehicle and helps protect the environment.