Correct tyre pressure is one of the cheapest, quickest checks you can make on a car, yet it's the one most drivers put off. Under-inflated tyres wear unevenly, increase fuel consumption, and make the car feel vague and slower to respond in an emergency stop. Over-inflated tyres reduce the contact patch with the road, which hurts grip and comfort. Getting it right takes a few minutes and a cheap gauge.
Find your car's correct pressure
Never guess or use the number moulded into the tyre's sidewall — that's the tyre's maximum rating, not the setting for your car. The correct pressures for your vehicle are usually printed on a sticker inside the driver's door frame or fuel filler flap, and they're also listed in the handbook. Many cars specify a different pressure for a full load of passengers and luggage, so check which figure applies to how you're using the car.
How to check and adjust it
Check pressures when the tyres are cold — ideally before you've driven more than a mile or two, since driving heats the air inside and gives a falsely high reading. Use the following routine:
- Remove the valve cap and press the gauge firmly onto the valve until the hissing stops.
- Compare the reading with the figure from your door sticker or handbook.
- Add air in short bursts if the pressure is low, checking again between bursts.
- Release air with the small pin on the back of most gauges if the pressure is too high.
- Refit the valve cap to keep out dirt and moisture.
Don't forget the spare wheel if you carry one — it's easy to overlook and useless if it's flat when you need it.
Make it a habit
Checking pressures once a month, and always before a long motorway trip or a heavily loaded journey, is enough to catch slow leaks before they become a problem. A sudden pressure warning light or a tyre that looks visibly low should be checked straight away rather than left until your next fill-up.
Five minutes with a gauge is a small price for better fuel economy, more even tyre wear, and a car that handles the way it's supposed to. Keep a gauge in the glovebox and there's no excuse not to check.
