You should only check your tyre pressures when they are cold. Warm tyres, from driving more than a few miles, will give you a false reading.
The correct tyre pressures for your particular car will be listed in the owner’s manual. There may also be a sticker mounted on the car somewhere with this detail, often this can be found on the door shut. The correct tyre pressure is also affected by the load the car is carrying – the heavier the load the higher the pressure.
If you don’t own a tyre pressure gauge then the easiest way to check them is by visiting a petrol station. These machines are very easy to use and there should be instructions on how to do so on the machine itself.
Correct tyre pressures result in better braking, handling, grip and fuel efficiency. If your tyre pressures are low you increase your car’s fuel consumption, the tyres wear out more quickly and there is an increased risk that the tyre could fail. Over inflated tyres reduce the amount of grip, stability can reduce cornering ability and can also cause under braking. Low tyre pressures could also increase the risk of damage from impacts with potholes.
If you do not have a tyre pressure gauge or are unsure what the correct tyre pressures should be, please call into the garage and we will check and adjust them for you.
If you need help, please call into the garage in Sharpthorne. We are based just outside of East Grinstead in West Sussex and very near to Crawley and Gatwick.
