Rory has the impression that he is always refueling his car. It consumes gasoline at the rate he consumes a pint at his local on a Saturday night. He purchased this vehicle since it was said to have outstanding MPG. What’s the story? Rory may not realize it, but his uneven tyre tread wear is causing disaster.
Beth recently had her MOT, and she came out with a huge fat fail. She’s enraged. She needs to drive to work. What went wrong? Her tyres are in poor condition. They should all be replaced as soon as feasible. She only updated them a few months ago and has no idea what’s worn them down so badly.
Graeme is joking with his companions as he drives along the highway. His car suddenly accelerates out of nowhere. It falls on one side, sending them into a tailspin. When it comes to a standstill, Graeme and his companions are left in a state of terror, their hearts pounding and their lungs burning. What in the world just happened? Graeme recently suffered a tyre blowout.
What are the three drivers in common? None of them check their tire pressure on a regular basis. Rory’s car is straining to move since his tyres have such irregular contact with the road, so it’s using a lot more petrol than usual. For the same reasons as Rory, Beth’s tyre wear was less than 1.6mm. Graeme’s wheels failed because they were significantly under-inflated. Do you know what else they most likely have in common? They don’t even know how to check tire pressure.
Many of us forget to check our tyre pressure until it’s time for our MOT and we have a cursory glance over a MOT checklist. Then we’re all scrambling for an air pump and a pressure gauge. We shouldn’t leave such a crucial duty till the last minute!
In this article, we’ll go over why we should check our tyre pressure on a regular basis, when to do it, how to check it, and how to fix it!
What exactly is tyre pressure?
The amount of air circulating around the inner lining of your tyre is measured by your car tyre pressure. It can be measured in two ways, depending on whether you’re an imperial or metric person.
The two measurements that are employed are:
– One for imperial fans, one for pounds per square inch (PSI).
– Bar, a metric unit equivalent to 14.5ish PSI.
Your vehicle manufacturer will calculate how much pressure should be on your wheels during development and testing, taking into account varied weight loads.
Why should I check the pressure in my tires?
Because your car’s wheels hold the full weight of the vehicle, they must be sturdy enough to carry the load. To be strong enough for the job, they must be filled with enough air to reach the specified air pressure reading. Your tyres lose a little air every month, about 2 PSI every four weeks, so keep an eye on them to make sure they’re in good shape.
Your car tyre pressure has a direct impact on how well you can handle turns and brake in your car, which is important not only for daily driving but also in emergencies. Under-inflated tyres do not make even contact with the road, producing excessive wear on the inside and outside edges of the tyre tread and increasing stopping distances due to poor road grip. Over-inflated tyres have a reduced contact surface with the road, resulting in shorter stopping distances and uneven wear.
If your tyre pressure is incorrect, it can significantly increase your repair and maintenance costs. Because your tyres are wearing out quickly, you’ll need to change them more regularly. They can’t do their job correctly, either, so your car has to work harder to get along the road, increasing gasoline consumption, decreasing fuel efficiency, and raising the price at the pump.
Checking your tyre pressure on a regular basis should not be considered a suggestion; it should be considered a need. Continue reading if you want to safeguard yourself and others on the road while also lowering your maintenance and fuel expenditures.
When should I check the pressure in my tires?
The suggested frequency for checking your tyre pressure varies greatly depending on the source. Some suggest once a week. Some say you should do it every time you drive. We believe you should check at least once a month, and certainly more frequently if you frequently travel long distances or log a lot of miles in a typical week.
You might also see a caution light blinking on your dashboard now and again. Since 2012, all new automobiles sold in the EU have been required to have a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that alerts you when your tyre pressure is too high or too low. If you notice this, immediately check your pressure measurements.
In hotter temperatures, your tyre pressure drops faster, so keep this in mind during the summer months and adapt your pressure checking plan accordingly.
Checking Tyre Pressure
It’s a little fussy, but your tyre pressure check shouldn’t be too difficult. You don’t have to take it to the local mechanic on a monthly basis to have it done. Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be as good as gold:
1. Wait till your automobile has cooled down. It should not have been driven during the previous three hours. The heat in the automobile can impact the pressure reading.
2. Apply the handbrake and ensure that the ignition is turned off.
3. Get yourself a tire pressure gauge. You might have one at home or use one at a gas station. Before you begin, ensure that it has been properly calibrated. If you’re unsure about the one at the gas station, ask a forecourt worker for assistance.
4. Determine the optimal pressure for your vehicle and its weight load. This information can be found in the owner’s manual or on the inside ledge of the driver’s door. There should be a sticker on this ledge indicating the proper tyre pressure, accounting for varying weight loads, such as two or four people. This tyre pressure finder is also useful.
5. Remove the dust cap from the tyre valve. Put it somewhere safe, but not on the ground. It might get dirty, and then you won’t be able to screw it back on.
6. Place the pressure gauge into the stem. Check for an accurate reading by pressing down on the valve stem. Compare it to the standards outlined in the vehicle owner’s manual. Check that you’re comparing like for like, thus if your specifications are in imperial, check the imperial measurement on the gauge.
7. Deflate it if it’s overinflated. If it’s under-inflated, inflate it appropriately (see the following section for further information).
8. Always check all four of your wheels and your spare wheel to ensure they are in good working order when you need them.
How can I adjust my tire pressure?
There is a simple solution for both over-inflated and under-inflated tires.
If your tyre is over-inflated, move the pump nozzle away from the tyre valve to release air. Hissing air will be expelled. But don’t go crazy here; do it in short spurts and keep checking the pressure until it’s at the correct level.
Inflating your wheels is simple if you have an under-inflation problem. Remove the pressure gauge and connect an air pump to the tyre valve. Pump in a little air at a time, then replace the pressure gauge at regular intervals to see how your readings are progressing.
You can take the following procedures to ensure that your tyre pressure remains fairly consistent for an extended period of time:
1. Make sure your tyre tread is 1.6mm thick.
2. Don’t overload the automobile with extra weight if you don’t have to.
3. If you must transport additional weight, ensure that your wheels are properly inflated.
4. Be a safe, smart driver on the road in general!
Conclusion
By ensuring that you have the proper tyre pressure, you are ensuring that you are not wasting money on gasoline and that you are protecting yourself against MOT failures and accidents.
With just a few simple procedures that you can perform at home or at your local gas station, you can ensure that your tyres are fully inflated and ready to hit the road!