Correct tyre pressure affects your safety, fuel economy, and how long your tyres last — and it's one of the easiest things to check yourself.
Where to find your correct pressure
Your vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure is usually printed on a placard inside the driver's door frame, in the fuel flap, or in your owner's manual. This is the figure to use — not the maximum pressure printed on the tyre's sidewall, which is a different number.
How to check it properly
- Check pressure when tyres are cold — before driving, or at least a few hours after.
- Driving heats up tyres and increases the pressure reading, giving a false result.
- Check monthly, and always before a long trip.
- Don't forget your spare tyre.
What happens if pressure is wrong
- Underinflated: increases rolling resistance (worse fuel economy), causes excess heat build-up, and wears the outer edges of the tread faster.
- Overinflated: reduces the tyre's contact patch with the road, can make the ride harsher, and wears the centre of the tread faster.
See our Tyre Wear Guide for how to read these wear patterns on your own tyres.