By the H Auto Mobile Tyres team · Updated 1 November 2026
Where to find the right pressure
Every vehicle has its own recommended pressures. You'll usually find them on a sticker inside the driver's door frame or the fuel filler flap, and in the vehicle handbook. Don't use the number printed on the tyre wall: that's the maximum the tyre can take, not the right pressure for your car.
Loaded or not?
Many vehicles list two sets of pressures: one for normal driving and a higher one for a full load or towing. Use the higher figure when the car is full of people and luggage, or when you're towing.
How to check
- Check when the tyres are cold, before a long drive. Warm tyres read higher.
- Use a reliable gauge, or the air machine at a petrol station.
- Check all four tyres, and the spare if you have one.
- Top up to the recommended pressure and put the valve caps back on.
How often?
At least once a month and before long journeys. If one tyre keeps losing air, it probably has a slow puncture or a leaking valve, and should be checked before it goes flat.
Why it matters
- Safety: under-inflated tyres grip and brake less well, and can overheat.
- Tyre life: wrong pressures make tyres wear unevenly and faster.
- Fuel: soft tyres increase rolling resistance, so you use more fuel.
Warning light on?
If your tyre pressure warning light is on, see our guide: tyre pressure light on? What to do. If a tyre keeps going down, we can come to you and repair it. See mobile puncture repair.
