How to Check Tyre Pressure Properly

Correct tyre pressure affects grip, fuel use, and how evenly your tread wears, but it is one of the most commonly skipped pieces of car maintenance simply because people are not sure they are doing it right. The good news is that it takes about two minutes once you know the basics.

Always check pressure when the tyres are cold, meaning the car has not been driven for at least a few hours, or has only travelled a short distance at low speed. Driving heats the tyres and the air inside them expands, which will show a higher reading than the tyre’s true pressure. Checking straight after a highway drive is one of the most common reasons people get an inaccurate reading and end up under-inflating the tyre without realising it.

The correct pressure for your vehicle is not printed on the tyre itself, it is set by the vehicle manufacturer and is usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, in the fuel flap, or in the owner’s manual. This figure can differ from front to rear, and it is worth checking both since manufacturers sometimes specify a slightly different pressure for the rear axle, particularly on SUVs and utes that are often loaded.

When checking, remove the valve cap, press the gauge firmly and squarely onto the valve stem until the hissing stops, and read the result. A quick press that lets air escape around the gauge will give a false low reading. Check all four tyres including the spare, since a spare that has slowly lost pressure over months is not going to help much in an actual emergency. If you are ever unsure of your reading or don’t have a gauge on hand, our team can check and adjust all four tyres to the correct spec in a couple of minutes while you wait.