How to Check Your Cars Tyre Pressures

Your car’s tyre pressures are best checked with the engine switched off, at ambient temperature and on flat, level ground.
Firstly to check your car’s tyre pressures, you’ll need a tyre pressure gauge. A tyre pressure gauge can be purchased from most automotive spare parts stores. Otherwise, most petrol stations usually have a tyre pressure gauge/inflator on site.

Once you have a tyre pressure gauge available and you know the manufac- turer’s tyre pressure recommendation. (This can be found within the users manual or on a sticker that is normally found within the drivers or passengers from door jam), you’re ready to check your car’s pressures.

The tyre pressure valve and cap are usually found close to where the rim and tyre meet and are roughly 1/4 of the length of a pencil and of similar width. In some cases, the tyre pressure valve may be hidden behind the hubcap. Therefore, if you have difficulty locating the valve, you may be required to re- move the hubcap itself.

Once the valve is located, begin by unscrewing the tyre valve cap. Once re- moved, you should squarely and firmly push the tyre pressure gauge down onto the valve itself. At this stage, the gauge should be reading the pressure as found within the tyre (Please note, the operation of each tyre pressure gauge is different and if you’re unsure of its operation, please refer to the in- struction manual). If the pressure reads higher than the recommended pres- sure, you should release some air gradually from the tyre till the target pres- sure is met.

If the tyre pressure is less than the recommended amount, you should care- fully proceed to a petrol station or a nearby workshop to inflate. Please note, if the pressure is very low (Less than 15psi) It would be advised to inflate the tyre on the spot prior to having the tyre inspected professionally for a leak. Green Bean Auto can assist with tyre inflation and checking the safety of your tyres.

Otherwise, if the tyre is only slightly below the target pressure, you should slowly inflate the tyre to its target pressure with a manual pump or automatic tyre inflator (compressor). Once the tyre is at its target pressure, you can refit the tyre valve cap and proceed onto the next tyre. Be sure to check all four tyres in use as well as the spare tyre.