Things You Need to Know About Car Tyre Pressure

Tyre pressure or the amount of air in your car tyres is important for ride safety and increasing tyre life. But it is also among the most ignored car maintenance checks. Most car owners get the tyre air pressure checked only when a tyre starts sagging with low air pressure. Even that is often pointed out by someone else.

In today's post we analyse the importance of proper inflation for your car tyres and how to make it a habit.

Why proper car tyre pressure is important?

Like in any other mechanical setup, the tyres are part of the larger vehicle mechanism. To get the best out of your car, every component must run at its efficient best. For tyres, it means proper inflation, balanced wheels, and aligned suspension. And tyre pressure has the potential to affect the other two factors. Which, in turn, creates even more problems for the driver and the vehicle.

Tyre air pressure is measured in PSI, which stands for pounds per square inch.

8 reasons why proper car tyre pressure is important:

1. Under inflated tyres can cause permanent damage to the structural integrity of tyres. The sidewalls can get damaged the car will lose stability on the road.

2. Intense pressure build-up inside under inflated tyres causes more punctures, cuts, and bulging.

3. When one or more tyres are not running with proper air pressure, they cause strain on the suspension. In turn, leading to wheel alignment issues. Which then cause uneven tread wear and a host of other handling problems.

4. Improper inflation can also damage the rims when driven over bumps and potholes at speed.

5. Tyres with low air pressure can burst without warning due to the heat and pressure build-up. At highways speeds, this can turn into a major mishap.

6. Improper air pressure in tyres affects cornering performance. When cornering at speed, you may feel the tyres wobble and give out from under the vehicle.

7. Steering response also become heavier when the tyres lack proper air pressure.

8. Low inflation increases friction between the tyres and road surface, reducing fuel efficiency. In long run, it can also reduce the tyre mileage, requiring early tyre replacement.

How to self-check car tyre pressure?

Making regular tyre pressure check a habit can save you from a lot of hassle and potential safety risks. Checking tyre pressure is an easy process. Most of the times all you need is a visual check. Also, if your car tyre pressure is too low, you will notice a humming sound while driving, especially at speed.

Test with cold tyres

Air inside the tyre might heat up and expand once driven a few kilometres, and not represent accurate PSI. So, tyre experts advice that tyre pressure checks should happen before a cold start. Check the air pressure before you drive the car for the first time every day.

Use tyre pressure gauge

The best way to check tyre pressure is to use an air pressure gauge. Every car model has a recommended tyre pressure which you can find in the owner's manual. Use the tyre pressure monitoring gauge to ensure your car tyres have the right air pressure. There are three types of air pressure gauges - dial type, stick type, and digital. You can buy a tyre pressure gauge online through various e-commerce platforms.

The next step is to inflate the tyre using a portable tyre inflator or visiting a tyre shop. Also, remember to check the tyre pressure again after inflating them. In case your tyres are over inflated, release some air to reach the recommended PSI.

Use built-in air pressure monitoring

Modern cars come with built-in tyre pressure monitoring systems. If you own a top spec car model that has this function, it will be easier for you to check tyre pressure. But the thing here is to act upon low tyre pressure warnings in time. Sometimes having a convenience makes people lazy or slow to act. Visit a tyre shop or self-inflate the tyres to appropriate PSI once the warning pops up.

Checking tyre air pressure without a gauge

If you do not have a tyre pressure check gauge and your vehicle lacks the self-check function, you can do a visual check. Here is how you can check tyre air pressure through a simple visual inspection:

1. Feel the air in the tyres using your hand or foot. If the tyre remain firm, the air pressure is near about normal. But if the tyre surface gives into the applied force, the tyre is under inflated.

2. Sometimes when the air pressure is too low, you can tell by simply looking at the tyre. It will be sagging a bit and look odd.

3. Also, if your ride feels bumpier or you feel the car becoming unstable on turns, check tyre pressure.

4. Increase in NVH levels inside the car cabin can also mean low tyre pressure. NVH means noise, vibrations, and harshness.

What is the right tyre pressure for cars?

For hatchbacks and mid-size sedans in India the ideal tyre pressure is between 32-35 PSI/cold. Here, cold means that the tyres have not rolled for at least 2-3 hours before the check. But the best way to find out your car's ideal tyre pressure is to check the owner's manual.

Tips for maintaining proper tyre pressure

Most people might think that maintaining proper tyre pressure is a cumbersome task. But the truth is, it is quite easy if you make a habit of checking tyre pressure before every trip. Here are a few suggestions for maintaining proper air pressure in tyres:

1. Buy an air pressure monitoring gauge and keep it inside the car for anytime, anywhere checks.

2. Also, you can get a tyre inflator, which aren't very costly and can save you from the hassle of using a manual air pump. Or else, you can keep a manual air pump, if you don't mind the occasional grind.

3. But the easiest way to maintain proper tyre pressure is to get your tyres checked at petrol pumps. Indian motor laws require petrol pumps to have air filling stations, that are free to use. You can either ask the guy manning the air filling station or do it yourself.

Tyre size and air pressure chart for Indian cars

Are you are still unsure about how much tyre pressure in your car? Or if you need help in determining tyre pressure for your car model, we have a tyre size and air pressure list for Indian car models.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average pressure of a car tyre?

Average air pressure for hatchbacks, mid-size sedans, compact-SUVs and other cars in the passenger segment ranges between 32-35 PSI/cold. Bigger cars with larger tyre sizes may have different air pressure requirements.

Why is there an increase in car tyre pressure on a sunny day?

It happens because as the tyre gets warmer due to friction and the hot weather, the air inside the tyre expands and the tyre pressure increases. But that does not tell you the true air pressure. That is why, air pressure is best measured when the car has been parked for at least 2 to 3 hours.

Why tyre pressure decreases in parked cars?

Because of simple science. Heat expands and cold contracts. As the air inside the tyres cools down, the tyre air pressure decreases. When we drive the car, the rubber compound heats up due to friction with the road, in turn heating up the air. The hot air expands and gives the impression that tyres have good air pressure, but that may not be true. So, experts recommend checking tyre pressure before a cold start.

Which option is better: wider tire with high pressure or small tire with lower pressure?

It depends on the type of your vehicle and your use case. However, for most drivers, having stock tyres with OEM recommended air pressure is the best thing possible. Air pressure in tyres is not determined by the type of tyre, it is calculated based on the weight and type of vehicle. If you plan to upsize then visit an authorised car tyre shop for expert help.

When should I fill the tyres with more air?

Overinflating the tyres by up to 10% is permissible. But we do not recommend filling tyres with more air as it can reduce braking distance and cause rapid tread wear in the middle of the tyre surface. Also, check your tyre sidewalls for maximum air pressure warnings. Filling air above that limit can cause a tyre burst.

Are public air stations unreliable?

Public air stations are not unreliable most of the times, but you should keep checking your car tyre pressure as well. Some air station guys might have a habit of over inflating tyres a bit. And ideally your car tyres should have the right tyre pressure all the time.

How do I know if my tyres have less/more air pressure?

If the tyre air pressure is too low, you can tell through a visual inspection. If the tyre pressure is not too low, you may notice a slight heaviness in the steering and occasional wobble while cornering. For tyres with more air pressure, you will feel more road noise creeping into the cabin, the braking might not feel very confident, and there might be greater tread wear a the centre of the tyre.

Are tyre pressures for tube and tubeless tyres different?

Tyre air pressure variation between tubeless and tube type tyres is very small. Usually, air pressure is subjective to the vehicle weight and usage, so having any type of tyre will not make a difference in correct air pressure requirements.