Tyre Pressure Check
Tyre Pressure Check
As tyres naturally lose some air, it is important to check your tyre pressure regularly. Without this, you risk losing grip and increasing your braking distances. You can also damage your tyres, shorten their life and increase your fuel consumption.
When should you check tyre pressure?
Always check your tyre pressure when the tyres have not been driven or have been driven very little.
Why? Because when you drive, the tyres heat up, which causes their pressure to rise. If you check your tyre pressure after driving for a long time, you will feel that your tyres are over-inflated and you may be tempted (wrongly) to remove air in order to adjust.
It is recommended that you check your tyre pressure when the vehicle has been driven less than 2 km. This will give you a true picture of your tyre pressure. If necessary, you can adjust by adding air if the pressure is low.
- What about the spare wheel?
The spare tyre is often overlooked in the tyre pressure checking process. However, if your vehicle is equipped with one, you should be able to rely on it if one of your tyres goes flat. The spare tyre also needs to be checked regularly, even if it is not used daily. So remember to check its pressure too.
- How often should you check tyre pressure?
There is a small amount of normal air loss regardless of the age of your tyres and their level of wear. As the tyre rolls, it loses some air. Therefore, to avoid the risks mentioned above, we recommend that you check your tyre pressure once a month.
- Cause of pressure loss
Why do some tyres deflate faster than others?
There are various reasons:
- If the valve of the tyre is a little porous, the tyre loses air faster than normal.
- When the rim is old and rusty, this can also cause damage to the tyre and lead to a loss of pressure.
- If your vehicle is always parked in the same place, tyres exposed to the sun lose air faster than those that are not.
- A puncture, for example caused by a nail, can result in a slow and steady loss of pressure.
During your monthly check, if you notice a significant difference in pressure between one tyre and the others, it could be a fault. In this case, have it checked by a professional.
Otherwise, small differences in tyre pressure from one tyre to another are common. Just get into the habit of checking the tyre pressure every month to avoid under-inflation and premature wear of your tyres.
