How to check your car tyre pressure
Checking your car tyre pressure is one of those routine maintenance tasks that can easily be overlooked.
Why it's important
Safety first
Properly inflated tyres ensure optimal traction and handling. Under-inflated tyres can increase stopping distances and reduce manoeuvrability, especially in emergency situations.Fuel efficiency
Incorrect tyre pressure can significantly affect fuel efficiency. Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which means your engine has to work harder and burn more fuel to move the vehicle.Tyre longevity
Over-inflated or under-inflated tyres wear out faster and unevenly, leading to premature replacement and increased maintenance costs.Checking your tyre pressure
To check your tyre pressure, you will need a tyre pressure gauge. It is worth spending more for quality to ensure you get an accurate reading and that the gauge will last.
Many newer cars also alert when the tyre pressure dips below the recommended pressure.
Many, but not all, service stations offer air pumps as a free service. Use these to check your tyre pressure and add air if required.
It is worth noting that service stations are not required to have air pumps and if the equipment is damaged they have no obligations or timeframes to have it repaired.
You should check your tyre pressure at least once a month and before long trips.
Tyre pressure should ideally be checked when the tyres are cold (driven less than 1.5km). This gives the most accurate reading because as a vehicle is driven, the tyre sidewall flexes, creating heat that raises the tyre pressure.
The recommended tyre pressure is found in your vehicle's owner's manual or on a tyre placard, which is usually located inside the driver's side door jamb, fuel flap or glovebox lid.
Unscrew the valve cap on the tyre, press the gauge firmly onto the valve stem and read the pressure displayed.
RACQ Roadside Assistance: We're there when you need us
Air pumps without a gauge attached to the hose have a digital display on the main unit.
When inflating the tyre, be sure to press the hose securely on to the valve. If not, the air pump will detect an air leak, which will cause an error and cause the compressor to stop.
If the pressure is too low, inflate the tyre to the recommended pressure.
If the tyre pressure is too high, release some air by gently pressing the centre of the valve stem with the gauge.
Repeat this process for all four tyres, and remember to check the spare tyre as well. RACQ’s Roadside patrol teams often get called to change flat tyres only to find that the spare is also flat.
If a tyre is completely flat, the air pump cannot detect when the hose is attached as there is no pressure. When this occurs, a separate button on the machine starts inflation. The button is usually marked with an ‘!’ and reads ‘Flat tyre only’.
While checking pressure, it's also a good idea to visually inspect the tyres for signs of damage or uneven wear.
This can indicate alignment issues, the need for tyre rotation or replacements.
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