Ensuring your tyres are at the right pressure is important. Tyre pressure can affect your car’s handling, turning, braking and fuel efficiency. A tyre at the wrong pressure will wear out faster, cost you more money and might put your safety at risk.
To find the correct tyre pressure for your car, check your vehicle handbook or take a look on the inside of the driver side door. Alternatively, your tyre pressure may also be printed on the inside of your petrol tank flap. Be aware that some vehicle manufacturers may recommend slightly different pressures for your front and rear tyres.
Even in ideal conditions, tyres lose pressure over time causing them to become under inflated. If your tyres are under inflated, they will wear out at a faster rate, especially on the inside and outside edges of the tread.
How would under inflated tyres affect your vehicle?
Under inflated tyres will cause your tread depth to wear down faster and may affect your braking performance. Not only that, but under inflated tyres will also cost you more money on fuel, as there will be increased rolling resistance, meaning your fuel efficiency will be reduced.
Over inflated tyres can cause you as much trouble as under inflated tyres, only in slightly different ways. An over inflated tyre will increase the wear in the central part of the tyre, which will reduce its lifespan and mean you’ll need to change your tyres sooner.
How would over inflated tyres affect your vehicle?
If you put too much air in your tyres, you will decrease the area of contact with the road, which will cause a loss of traction, poorer handling and braking. Over inflated tyres also increase the risk of tyre failure, putting you at unnecessary risk.
Tyres slowly lose pressure over time, so you should be checking the pressure of each tyre once a month. Even in the best of conditions, tyres will lose about 0.069 bar or 1 pound per square inch (psi) per month.
