The Importance’s of having the Correct Tyre Pressures

There are many good reasons to making sure your tyres are always inflated to the correct pressure. Not only will you save on your fuel bills!! It’s better for the environment and it’s also safer

Your tyres are the only thing that’s keeping your vehicle gripped to the road

In 2010, the AA carried out a couple of tyre pressure survey’s conducted on 150 vehicles getting a warrant of fitness check at an AA Inspection Centre found that 48% had underinflated tyres. They also proved in a test conducted on common fuel consumption theories that driving a car with tyres 7 psi underinflated increased fuel consumption by nearly 8%

The type or brand of tyres you have on your vehicle, is doesn’t matter as incorrect tyre pressures will affect the fuel efficiency and the safety of your vehicle

Incorrectly inflated tyres lead to:

– Reduced fuel efficiency: When tyres are under-inflated, their rolling resistance increases. This means they need more energy or fuel to make them turn. Think about how difficult it is to ride your bicycle with underinflated tyres!

– Increased safety risks: Vehicle handling, cornering, acceleration, braking and wet grip are all impaired if tyres are not inflated to the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres are more likely to suffer from a dangerous blowout.

– Increased tyre wear: When a tyre is under-inflated, its contact patch with the road surface is concentrated towards the two outer edges of the tread. This leads to rapid wear on the shoulders and reduced tyre life

– Overinflated tyres wear unevenly, having less grip on the road and can affect braking ability

Tips:

– Check tyre pressure’s monthly – We recommend checking them at least monthly or whenever you’re going on a long trip; towing or carrying heavy loads

– Different vehicles require different levels of tyre pressure. The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle can usually be found on a plate located on the driver’s door, on a plate inside the fuel filler flap or in your vehicle handbook

– Tyres lose air pressure naturally, by about 1-2psi per month (3-6%)

– Check the pressure when tyres are cold (that is, when you have travelled less than 3km)

– Check the pressure in all four tyres, including the spare

Also to consider:

– While checking the pressure’s, also check the condition and tread depth of your tyres. Bulges, lumps or cuts are all signs a tyre may need replacing

– Although 1.5mm is the legal minimum tread depth, less than 3mm reduces wet grip, making driving less safe in wet conditions

Did you know:

New vehicles are increasingly being fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems. These work by monitoring the amount of air in the tyre and alerting the driver when the pressure in any of the tyres falls below a certain threshold.

When buying a car, look out for this feature.

Click here to find out your car’s tyre pressure.

If you would like to know more or you are not sure just call in or get in touch with us at Complete Auto Repairs, Your local Auto Super Shoppe!!!