Checking your tyre pressure takes less than two minutes but is one of the most important maintenance habits you can develop. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption, accelerate wear, raise blowout risk, and make your car handle poorly. Over-inflated tyres reduce grip, worsen ride comfort, and wear unevenly.
The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is found on a placard inside the driver's door frame, inside the fuel filler cap, or in the owner's manual. It is given for normal load and for full load — use the full load pressure if you are carrying passengers and luggage for a trip.
Always check tyre pressure when the tyres are cold — meaning the car has not been driven for at least an hour. Driving heats the air inside the tyre, increasing pressure and giving a false reading. If you must check after driving, add 4 to 5 psi to the reading to estimate cold pressure.
At Tayside Mobile Tyres, we check and adjust tyre pressure as part of every fitting and puncture repair. We also offer standalone pressure checks if you are concerned your tyres may be under or over-inflated. If your car has a TPMS warning light, we can diagnose the cause and fix it.
Many modern cars have Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems that alert you when pressure drops significantly. However, these systems are not perfect. They may not warn you until pressure is 25 percent below recommended levels, by which point fuel economy and handling have already suffered. Regular manual checks remain the best practice.
Temperature affects pressure significantly. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, tyres lose approximately 1 to 2 psi. This means a tyre correctly inflated in summer may be under-inflated in winter. Check pressures more frequently during cold Dundee winters.
For a free tyre pressure check in Dundee, or if your TPMS warning light is on, call Tayside Mobile Tyres. We will come to your location, check all four tyres, adjust pressures, and investigate any warning light issues. It is quick, easy, and could save you money and keep you safe.
Published