Regardless as to how often you drive, it is important that your car’s tyres are inflated to their required pressure. As a car owner, you have invested good money into your vehicle so the last thing you need is to have it damaged. To ensure your tyres are adequately inflated, it is best to check the tyre pressure at least once a month.
The Recommended Pressure
Did you know that your vehicle’s recommended tyre pressure hasn’t got anything to do with the size of the tyre? Instead, it is determined by your car’s load and driving speed.
To find the recommended tyre pressure for your car, look at the tyre manufacturer’s placard which is usually found in the driver door sill, the glove box, under the bonnet or under the fuel filter cap.
However, if you have new tyres on your car, the recommended psi may differ from that of the original tyres. To determine the exact pressure, you should talk to a professional; otherwise, you are at risk of driving on poorly inflated tyres. Most small to medium sized cars need to be inflated between 27 to 35 psi. Larger vehicles can go as high as 38 or 39 psi.
It is important to note that the manufacturer’s guide in your car is just a recommendation and pressure levels will vary. Most commonly, if you need to tow a heavy load, your rear tyres will need to be at least 3-4 psi higher than your front tyres.
Issues Caused by Under- or Over-Inflation
Too often, drivers are relying on tyres that are either under- or over-inflated. Neither is a good idea as both will cause damage to your vehicle. The dangers of driving on under inflated tyres include:
- Quicker wear and tear of your tyres
- Tread wear out
- Loss of traction and grip on the road
- Increased fuel consumption
Tyres that are over-inflated will cause problems to your vehicle, too. This includes:
- Loss of traction on the road
- Bouncing on the road
- Braking issues
It is vital that you have your tyres inflated to the recommended psi or you could be putting yourself at risk of an accident. If you are not sure about the right pressure for your tyres, speak to a professional during a tyre service.
Nitrogen
If you fill your tyres with nitrogen, the good news is that you don’t have to check the pressure as often because nitrogen doesn’t heat up as quickly as air. As well as that, the chemical structuring of nitrogen doesn’t leak as easily as air. However, nitrogen tyres aren’t cheap to find and when they need to be inflated, you will need to have them professionally filled.
Speak to Your Car Care Professional
If you are not sure about what the recommended tyre pressure is for your tyres, it is best to have them professionally checked. Here at Car Care Joondalup, we can determine the right pressure for your tyres to ensure you are safe while driving. Contact us today on 08 9300 9796.