Adjusting your tyre pressure is one of the more frustrating parts of every car owner’s life. This is simply because, very often, inflating tyres is just something that slips our minds. Modern vehicles are equipped with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to help track and maintain optimal tyre pressure. Some of us rely on others to fix our tyre pressure for us, and- while there’s nothing wrong with asking for help- you never know when you might find yourself stuck for the company on the road. This means you might be desperately Googling to find out how to inflate your tyres in the middle of nowhere. So please do yourself a big favour and read this quick-and-easy guide before it gets to that point!
What Happens When Your Car Tyre Pressure Warning Light Gets Low
Your tyres are the cornerstones of your car and your driving ability. The correct tyre pressure ensures your braking distance is reasonable, corners are safe and easy to turn, your vehicle is equally balanced, and fuel consumption stays economical. Having low pressure in your tyres means that you are in danger of having your tyre blow out on you, and the long-term effects make you drive more dangerously, too.
Since low pressure means that more of your tyre is touching the ground, your wheels will wear out prematurely, and you’ll burn through fuel faster since your car will be working harder to keep moving. Low tyre pressure can lead to increased fuel consumption and faster tread wear, impacting your overall fuel economy. Air pressure can be lost through punctures, damaged tyre beads, and temperature changes. A drop in ambient temperature overnight can trigger the tyre pressure warning light. Sustained tyre pressure drops can occur due to osmosis, leading to a loss of 1-3 PSI per month. The tyre pressure warning light is crucial in alerting drivers to low tyre pressure, ensuring safe driving. While both of these things may not affect your safety, they are bad for the environment and your wallet! On top of this, your car is likely to struggle with corners, and the sides of your tyres will bend more. This leads to both overheating and, eventually, a blowout.
Some tire-pressure facts
PSI stands for Pounds per Square Inch- meaning how much pressure is currently being created
After your brakes, your tyres are any car’s most significant safety feature.
Most new cars do not have spare tyres, so taking care of your wheels has never been so important.
What is a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?
A tyre pressure gauge is a simple tool for discovering the amount of pressure available in a gaseous or liquid area. In this case, the indicator can tell how much pressure is produced on the tyre’s inside. It helps ensure tyres are inflated to the optimal pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
Can I Fill My Tires Without a Pressure Gauge?
Yes! Most garages use a feedback system to fill your tyres while registering your current PSI. You can also pre-program the air pumps at your local garage to automatically signal when the correct PSI has been measured. However, avoid adding more air to tyres that have lost air pressure due to temperature changes, as this can lead to over-inflation.
How Often Should I Be Checking My Tires?
Your car’s tyres should be checked at least once a month. Do this when your car is at rest, and your tyres are cold, and the PSI reading is likely more accurate. Regularly checking and maintaining your vehicle’s tyre pressure is crucial for safety and economic reasons. Of course, if you’re travelling to a local garage to check your tyre pressure, your tyres will be a little warmer, but don’t worry—it shouldn’t be too far off an accurate reading!
How Do I Maintain My Tire Pressure?
Driving economically is the best way to ensure your tyre pressure remains at the right level for longer. Going slowly over speed bumps will also help. Try to run over bumps and lumps as evenly as possible to keep your tyres at similar PSI levels. Avoid potholes where necessary, and don’t park with two tyres on the curb! Maintaining an airtight tyre valve is crucial to prevent gradual air loss and ensure proper tyre pressure.
Other tyre problems to look out for
Regularly check the tread of your tyres. Any tread under 1.6mm is illegal, so be sure to keep yourself safe and watch out for when your tyres are approaching this limit.
Over-inflation. You may notice your car’s tyres are overinflated when your driving feels a little “bouncier”, and you find yourself skidding more than you’d like.
Cracks and lumps show general wear and tear on your tyres and are signs that they will likely need changing.
Tyre pressure loss can occur due to natural processes, osmosis, and temperature changes. Air slowly permeates the rubber walls of the tyre over time, and temperature fluctuations cause air to contract in cooler temperatures and expand in warmer temperatures.
How to Fix Low Tire Pressure
Step 1
Check online for the correct tyre pressure for your car, or use the manual for the required specific pressure. If you can’t find your car type, look at your wheels, which will have the MAXIMUM PSI for each tyre written on the side.
Step 2
Drive up to your local air pump (usually found at most garages for free or for a small charge) and ensure the hose can reach all four tyres. Since many air pumps work on a per-minute basis, this can avoid messing around later and having to find your change again.
Step 3
Find and remove the valve stem for each tyre. This is the little bit that sticks out, facing the inside of the tyre toward the rim. Once your tyres are inflated, make sure to put them somewhere safe so you can find them easily.
Don’t worry about your air escaping. Because it’s a valve, the stem automatically closes when the centre isn’t pushed in.
Step 4
Pop the air hose over the stem and gently push it into the valve—you should hear short bursts of air. The general rule of thumb given on My Synchrony is that for every second and a half, your tire should inflate by one PSI. Most air pumps will allow you to pre-program this into their system and will sound a short alarm when completed. Otherwise, be sure to keep checking the pump’s screen.
Your front and rear tyres will likely require different pressures. Programme the pump as needed and be sure not to over-inflate.
Step 5
If you accidentally overinflate the tyre, don’t panic. It’s easy to let out a little air with the back of the hose. Press into the middle of the valve stem to release some air.
On average, expect to lose roughly one psi every three seconds the pin is being pushed down.
Step 6
When the correct PSI has been reached, remove the hose and pop the valve stem back. Then, begin the same process on the next tyre.
Don’t worry about going back and forth a little, especially on your first few times. It’s more important to keep your tyre pressure just right than suffer a touch of embarrassment if someone is waiting. For a few minutes of faffing around, you can make a massive difference to your driving ability, your money and, of course, your safety. We hope this has been helpful. Feel free to connect with us if you’d like to add any other points!