A simple guide to low tyre pressure

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Driving a car with tyres that have the wrong amount of pressure is taking a huge risk. Essentially you’re putting yourself in danger of getting a puncture, or worse still, a tyre burst that can cause you to lose control of your car. There are different kinds of tyres for different car models and different purposes and each of these tyres has an optimal filling pressure recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle. If you have no idea what this recommended tyre pressure is for your car, you can search for it online or use online tyre

pressure checkers. And different tyre pressures are recommended for different usages of the car. For instance the recommended tyre pressure for an empty car will be different from that recommended for it when full of passengers. Generally, the recommended tyre pressure for most cars, pickups and minivans will lie between 27 and 32 psi while the figure for SUVs will usually be 5-8 psi higher.

It is important for you as a driver to check your tyre pressure frequently. Whenever the quality of your ride is not as smooth as it usually is, seeming a bit bumpier than usual, the problem could be that the pressure of your tyres is not even. All tyres leak air imperceptibly over time and in checking your tyre pressure, you can be able to detect if one of your tyres is leaking air faster than it should. For the most accurate estimate ofyour tyre pressure, it is recommended to do the checking in the morning while the tyres are cold. If you check after driving for a while you will get an inaccurate reading as the air in the tyres will have heated and expanded. The same principle applies when you check the tyre pressure on a hot day.

Also in the interests of obtaining a trustworthy figure, you should not rely on your eyes as some tyres, especially the Radial variety tend to bulge even when the tyre is not overinflated. The pressure gauges at most petrol stations tend to be inaccurate so they shouldn’t be relied upon wholly. Gettingyour own pressure gauge is a worthwhile investment in this regard.

Once you’ve got the right reading of your tyre pressure, increase it if it below the recommended figure or vent some air if the opposite is true. Underinflated or overinflated tyres pose a grave driving risk which you don’t want to take.