There is a common misconception that the best tyre pressure is the one stamped upon the side of your tyres. But the best tyre pressure for your car is actually the figure printed upon the tyre placard of your car – most commonly found within the frame of the driver’s side door.
Your car is designed to perform, handle and ride best with a specific tyre at a specific tyre pressure.
There are 5 main reasons why maintaining the right tyre pressure is important.
The first is safety. tyres that are under-inflated can overheat, and can result in increased rolling resistance and therefore require more fuel to maintain the same speed.
The second reason is economy. Over or under-inflated tyres suffer more damage than those with the correct pressure and need to be replaced more regularly.
The third reason for maintaining the correct tyre pressure is the environment. Correct tyre pressure helps to maintain fuel efficiency. This can equate to lower CO2 emissions coming from your vehicle.
The correct tyre pressure is important to ensure the vehicle is running efficient, on longer terms will protect tyres from unusual wear and tear, the correct tyre pressure can be found on the tyre placard, usually refers to the region (Country) where the car is manufactured. A European standard car in Australia would require ( 5 - 10) percent more PSI than recommended.
Over inflated tyres can lose traction easily, which may lead to the poor vehicle handling on road.
Always check tyre pressure with a tyre pressure gauge when your tyres are cold.
Below is an image of how tyres may appear in case of incorrect tyre pressure.
For more tips on tyre care, click here.