Winter car health check: how to adjust your tyre pressures

Monday, 22 July 2019

Tyres have a lot of hard work to do.

They're your car's only point of contact with the road, so having the correct pressures is not just important for ride, handling and safety (especially in the wet) - it can also have a significant effect on fuel efficiency.

Checking and adjusting tyre pressures is not hard to do. You just need to know what the correct pressures are (they may be different for front and rear): you'll find this information on the door sills, sometimes on the back of the fuel flap - but always in the owner's manual.

Lots of basic car maintenance can be done at home.

Note there might also be different values given for light and heavy loads. This is a judgement call, but the plaque will often give you guidance (one occupant, four occupants and so on).

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You can check and adjust your pressures at the local garage of even at home if have your own gauge (inexpensive) and pump (a bit more costly, but actually worth it given that you should be checking your tyres regularly.

Wherever you do it, make sure the tyres are as cold as possible. You won't get an accurate reading if they are warm from a journey.

Check out the video above from UK breakdown cover company GEM Motor Assist.