HOW IMPORTANT IS ACCURATE TYRE PRESSURE?

Tyre pressure is something often overlooked by the everyday person, heck even the bloke sitting across from me said he only checks his tyres once a year (not recommended).

One of the most important things you need to do to maintain your tyres and ensure they last as long as possible is regularly check their air pressure.

Incorrectly inflated tyres are potentially a serious safety issue. Under or overinflated tyres will not allow your vehicle to handle properly and predictably. This loss of predictability increases the risk of you losing control of the vehicle and reduces your ability to respond in an emergency situation. For example under-inflation allows an increased risk of aquaplaning thanks to increased surface area on the road (same weight over bigger area means less force pushing water out of the way of the tyre.) Again, these safety related issues are in the power of our own choice, as most are usually caused by lack of maintenance/unrecognised puncture or leak.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES WITH AIR PRESSURE BEING WRONG IN A TYRE?

Tyre issues caused by too low pressure

The shoulders of the tyres will wear out faster than the middle
Excessive sidewall flex
Overheating
Increased risk of potential blowouts

Tyre issues caused by too high a pressure

Wear out centre of tyre tread
Bumpy and uncomfortable ride
Smaller contact patch resulting in less traction on the road

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT PRESSURE TO USE THEN?

There is not one answer for all tyres. As tyres serve different purposes and come in varying sizes. Not only this, the recommendations can change depending on the weather and the payload in the vehicle. The heat of summer and the cold of winter both influence tyre pressure readings and ideal tyre pressures.

In general though, many vehicle manufacturers recommend tyre pressures between 30-35 PSI or 206-240kPa (PSI if you’re old school and prefer imperial measurements, or kPa if you’re a fan of the French and their metric system.)

When having any doubt about a vehicle or its components, ultimately checking the vehicle owners manual will get you somewhere. Though in this instance the tyre placard should help, you’ll usually find a sticker inside the drivers door jamb stating what your recommended tyre pressure should be.

If you are still unsure then double check with your local tyre store, who can help you out with personalised advice tailored to you, your vehicle and your driving habits.

WHAT DOES AIR PRESSURE DO IN A TYRE?

Correctly measured air pressure in your tyres will greatly contribute to supporting the weight of the vehicle; Whilst also providing vibration and shock isolation.

HOW DO I MEASURE AIR PRESSURE IN MY TYRE ON MY OWN?

It’s really easy to measure air pressure on your own, whether it's using an inexpensive gauge from an auto parts store, or simply going to the servo. It is worth keeping in mind that sometimes fuel station equipment is damaged from misuse so it might not be the most accurate way to measure tyre pressures, but you already bought your own gauge, right. Right?

Check out the video below for more-