Making sure your tyres are correctly inflated will help you use less fuel and be safer on the road, and your tyres will last longer.
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Tyres lose around 1-2psi per month (3-6%) naturally so it's important to check them at least once a month and before long journeys. And remember to check the spare tyre as well!
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, inside the fuel filler flap or in your vehicle handbook.
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! Tyres that are underinflated can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 4%.
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 outer edges of the tread. This leads to rapid wear on the shoulders and reduced tyre life.
Tyre size can be found on your tyres sidewall - roll your mouse over the tyre markings below to find out more.
How wide the tread of the tyres is in millimetres i.e. the part that actually rolls on the road.
The 'height' from the bottom of the tread to the rim. This number represents a percentage of the tread width.
An 'R' indicates that a tyre has radial ply construction. Most car tyres are constructed this way, so you will rarely find a car tyre without an 'R'.
The diameter of the wheel rim in inches. If you're buying new wheels for existing tyres, this is the size in inches you'll require.
The load rating of a tyre determines what weight each tyre can carry.
The speed rating determines the maximum speed of the tyre.
Tyre size can be found on your tyres sidewall - roll your mouse over the tyre markings below to find out more.
How wide the tread of the tyres is in millimetres i.e. the part that actually rolls on the road.
The 'height' from the bottom of the tread to the rim. This number represents a percentage of the tread width.
An 'R' indicates that a tyre has radial ply construction. Most car tyres are constructed this way, so you will rarely find a car tyre without an 'R'.
The diameter of the wheel rim in inches. If you're buying new wheels for existing tyres, this is the size in inches you'll require.
The load rating of a tyre determines what weight each tyre can carry.
The speed rating determines the maximum speed of the tyre.
The tool provides data for a range of tyre sizes that have been nominated as appropriate by the vehicle manufacturer. Please ensure your car’s tyre size matches the given data before inflating your tyres to the recommended pressures. If your tyre size is not included, then that tyre size may not be suitable for your vehicle. If in any doubt, please ask your vehicle manufacturer or consult with a reputable tyre dealer.
Unscrew the valve cap and set it to the side. (Don’t lose it!)
If you use a pump with in-built tyre gauge often available at petrol stations, enter the correct pressure into the air pump and keep the tyre gauge pressed into the valve system until the air pump beeps.
If you use a foot pump, or the pump does not allow you to pre-select the target pressure, check the pressure first (you could use a pocket gauge) and then adjust it if needed. Press the tyre gauge onto the valve stem. There might be a slight hiss as you press down on the valve stem and again as you release it. You only need to do this for a second or two, long enough to get an accurate reading. If the pressure needs adjusting, inflate or deflate your tyres accordingly. If you turn the gauge’s head around, it will press your valve in and allow you to deflate your tyres. If you are using a foot pump, pump away and check from time to time to see if you have reached the right pressure.
Screw the valve cap back on the tyre, and repeat with all your tyres (and remember to check your spare tyre, too).
This tool is based upon the best data currently available. While data is available for most light vehicles (weighing less than 3.5 tonnes) produced from about 2000, the data coverage for vehicles built prior to 2000 is more limited.
As more data becomes available, this tool will be updated. In the meantime, if tyre pressure is not yet available for your vehicle, the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle can usually be found on a plate located on the driver's door, inside the fuel filler flap or in your vehicle handbook.
These are all ways of measuring units of pressure: pounds per square inch (PSI); kilopascals (kPa) and bars (no abbreviation). It doesn’t matter which unit of pressure you follow to check your tyre pressure, as long as you are consistent across all your tyres, and that this is consistent with the tyre pressure gauge you’re using.
Increase your tyre pressure in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. If your vehicle handbook does not provide this information, a rule of thumb is to add 4psi (28kpa or 0.28bar) to the recommended pressure.
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Disclaimer:
It is a safety risk to over or under-inflate your tyres. Overinflating tyres can adversely affect vehicle manoeuvrability, make the ride harsher, and sometimes lead to loss of control and crashes. Underinflating tyres can result in tyre stress due to overheating, irregular wear of tread, tyre failure, and sometimes loss of drvire control and crashes.
EECA makes every effort to provide accurate tyre size and pressure information. However, the accuracy of data cannot be guaranteed and users should consult their vehicle handbook, talk to their local garage or tyre specialist if they have any doubts about the information contained in this tool.