Car Tyre Pressures
We all know that the pressure of your car tyres is important, but do you know why? To put it simply, driving with the correct tyre pressure reduces the chances of you losing control of the vehicle. There are other reasons to check it, but the safety aspect is the most important.
The car manufacturer will have the recommended tyre pressures written in the user manual of your vehicle, but they may also appear on a label on the door frame or door, or inside the fuel flap. Don’t get confused by the tyre pressures on the side of the tyre. This is the maximum advised tyre pressure. The tyre pressure required by your vehicle will be specified by the manufacturer, so the same tyre may need different pressures on different vehicles.
Tyre pressures will naturally fluctuate due to changing temperatures, small perforations, and air will inevitably escape through the valve. This is why you should check them regularly, as well as before any long journeys you will be making. It is important that the car tyres are cold when you check the pressure, so make sure you haven’t driven anywhere for at least two hours, or at most have driven at a low speed for less than two miles.
Driving with incorrect tyre pressures puts you at a greater risk of losing control of the car, risks the tyres wearing prematurely and even causing irreparable damage to the internal construction of the tyres. On the plus side, the correct car tyre pressures can even save you fuel!