It\u2019s a question not enough people ask, and it\u2019s probably because tyre pressure isn\u2019t given the respect it truly deserves. It\u2019s also an issue that can sneak up on you, like age. One morning you look in the mirror and there\u2019s a drawn, haggard, slightly shocked sack of flesh staring back at you. When the hell did that happen? It\u2019s the same with tyre pressure. You drive out with shiny black rubber, perfectly inflated, yet every day there\u2019s a little less air inside those tyres until \u2013 before you know it \u2013 they\u2019ve lost the ability to keep you safe on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But before we get in to that \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing to acknowledge is that the correct PSI for your tyres is determined by the car you drive \u2013 not the type of tyres you have. There are three locations on your vehicle where you can find the recommended PSI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your car may not record the PSI recommendations on all three locations, but you\u2019ll find it on at least one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of people leave the maintenance of their car to their mechanic. By and large, that\u2019s what we recommend, but there are some small (but important) tasks that need to be completed more regularly than services allow for. Case in point: checking your tyre pressure. Fortunately, it\u2019s easy to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly every petrol station has a tyre pressure gauge. Some even have fancy ones with digital readouts. All you have to do is connect the compressor (the hose part) to the tyre valve, making sure you hold on to the little black cap (once they start rolling, they will<\/em> find a grate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it\u2019s an old-school compressor with an analogue readout, you simply hold the trigger until the tyre is inflated to the recommended PSI, keeping an eye on the analogue readout. If it\u2019s digital, you enter the PSI you want the tyres to be at into the compressor, then connect it to the tyre valve and squeeze the trigger until it beeps at you. The digital ones will even lower the PSI if the tyre happens to be overinflated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This quick and simply task should be done every month. Why? Well \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have four handprints size worth of rubber connecting your vehicle to the road. That\u2019s all. It\u2019s also the perfect amount. Any more or less and issues arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overinflated tyres have a reduced footprint on the road, which means you have less grip and therefore less control \u2013 particularly when it comes to breaking and driving in the wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Underinflated tyres also have less control but specifically to do with cornering. They also wear faster due to increased friction which means they\u2019ll need to be replaced more often. And they force the engine to work harder and consume fuel at a greater rate. All in all, underinflated tyres aren\u2019t safe for you or your bank balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not an onerous task and it doesn\u2019t cost you a thing \u2013 in fact, it saves you money in the long run. So next time you fill up, take five minutes to check that your tyres are at their correct PSI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you\u2019re near Eastern Tyre Centre, pop in anytime and we\u2019ll check and adjust the pressures for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Why is correct tyre PSI important?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n