Ideal Tyre Pressure

As our car is literally riding on air, it is only important that we have periodic check on our tyres.

Contrary to popular belief, tyre pressure is not based on type of tyre or its size. It is actually determined by your vehicle’s load and speed. To avoid second-guessing yourself, car manufacturers have tyre placards, which indicates the ideal tyre pressure and size for your car. The placard is usually found on the driver’s door sill, glove box, fuel filler cap or under the bonnet.

It is best to take the tyre pressure when it’s “cold” as pressure increases when it’s “hot”.

Below are some tips from Bridgestone Tyres:

Heavy loads or towing puts an extra strain on your tyres. So if your vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and luggage, the general rule is to add 28kpa (4PSI or 4lbs).

At high speed, (defined as driving at 120km/h for over one hour), your tyres will wear out twice as fast as when you drive at 70-80 km/h. If your tyres are under-inflated by twenty per cent tyre life can be reduced by thirty per cent. The rule here is to add 28Kpa (4PSI) from your Minimum Compliance Plate Pressure. Don’t inflate your tyres above 40 psi or 280 kPa. When the tyres get hot from driving, the pressure will increase even more.

By keeping our tyres well-inflated, we maximise mileage for our petrol consumption and help the environment as well (under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance which means more fuel to burn).

Roverworks is Canberra’s top choice for automotive repairs, parts and maintenance. Our mechanic team specialises in Land Rover and Range Rover models, in addition to servicing of 4x4s, off-road and other car models. Visit our shop for a quick check-up or consultation, repairs, maintenance and parts.