Safe driving with correct tire pressure
Machine operation

Safe driving with correct tire pressure

Tire pressure is a simple but very important thing. It is easy to check and adjust, but the consequences can be severe if you ignore it. In this text, you will learn how to correctly read and adjust tire pressure.

Why check air pressure?

Safe driving with correct tire pressure

The contact area of ​​all four car tires with the road is approximately the size of an A4 sheet . Under normal conditions, this relatively small contact area is sufficient to keep the vehicle safely on the road.

However, it is important so that the air pressure in the tires is correct. If the tire is too tight , the contact area decreases. Moreover , the tire is subjected to much higher loads and may burst if the recommended air pressure is significantly exceeded while driving.

If the tire is not inflated enough , the contact area will increase. But it does not make driving safer, but vice versa. Rear wheel steering is reduced and the vehicle skids faster. Similar steering movements are transmitted slowly if the tires on the front axle do not have sufficient pressure. Moreover , the stopping distance increases and the fuel consumption increases.
Therefore it is important always adhere to the recommended pressure values ​​as closely as possible.

Where is the air pressure in the tires?

The air pressure values ​​applicable to a vehicle are often marked on the vehicle. Typical locations are as follows:

- Inside driver's door
– Inside the tank cap
- Side wall in the trunk
– Under the hood

In any case: see the owner's manual for the vehicle.

Knowing your car also means knowing where to check your tire pressure. You can also contact your dealer if necessary. They'll be happy to show you where the pressure sticker is. .

How to properly measure tire pressure

Safe driving with correct tire pressure

Tire pressure can be measured at any gas station . Former widely used Henkelmann pressure devices » are now increasingly being replaced by pressure stations.

To get the correct values, park your car for a few minutes after a long motorway trip . This gives the tires time to cool down. Tires that are too hot will show that the pressure is too high because the warm air expands. This results in a slight increase in tire inflation pressure. Do not worry – Tire manufacturers have taken this pressure increase into account. There is nothing to be afraid of yet. However, if the internal pressure of a warm tire is reduced to the recommended minimum value, the pressure may subsequently be too low.

Therefore: always let warm tires cool down a bit before checking the pressure .

Pressure measurement is carried out in several stages:

Safe driving with correct tire pressure
1. Unscrew all valve caps and put them in a safe place (if necessary, first remove the hub caps)
Safe driving with correct tire pressure
2. Place the hub of the tire pressure gauge directly on the valve and secure it.
Safe driving with correct tire pressure
3. Read the pressure values.
Safe driving with correct tire pressure
4. Set the tire pressure to the recommended value on the display of the tire pressure monitor using the + or – button

5. Quickly remove the pressure measuring device and install it on the next valve.
6. Repeat the procedure until all four tires have been checked.
7. Screw on the valve caps and wheel caps (if necessary).

When there is always too little air in the tires

The fact that tire pressure gradually decreases over time, completely normal . Having to adjust tire pressure two to three times a year is still within reason .

However, if a newly inflated tire deflated dangerously the next day you should definitely look into this issue.

Safe driving with correct tire pressure

If you're lucky, only the valve is broken. This can be changed in a specialized workshop by following a few simple steps. Most often there is a hole in the tire . For safety reasons, a damaged tire is no longer repaired or patched, but replaced.

We also recommend that you always use tires of the same quality, at least on each axle. . In this way, the vehicle's driving characteristics are once again optimal and permanently guaranteed.

What are the benefits of tire gas?

Safe driving with correct tire pressure

Heavy duty tires such as tires aircraft or racing cars , usually filled with a mixture of 90% nitrogen and 10% CO2 .

There are two reasons for this:

– less pressure loss
– reduction of fire risk

Indeed , large nitrogen molecules cannot escape as easily as oxygen and air molecules .

However, expensive tire gas filling is useless for the average driver. . Even estimated at "only" £3 per tire , for ordinary cars, these investments are completely unnecessary. It is better to invest in a good varnish.

Mandatory since 2014: automatic tire check

Safe driving with correct tire pressure
Since 2014, car manufacturers have been required to install an automatic tire monitoring system on new cars. This extremely practical feature informs the driver immediately when the tire pressure reaches a dangerously low level. The sensor is mounted on the tire rim, which continuously measures the tire pressure and sends a signal to the control unit. There are also tire pressure monitoring units available for retrofitting. They screw onto valves instead of caps. However, such modified systems do not provide the accuracy and reliability of standard devices. For their part, they have two hooks: you need a separate sensor for each rim. They cannot be converted from summer to winter tires, but they are firmly fixed to the rim. So the first set of winter wheels costs £280 extra if they are to be fitted with sensors as well. The second catch is that the sensors work with a built-in battery. If it is empty, the battery cannot be replaced. You must buy the entire sensor new. Thus, for two sets of tires, an additional 550 euros is a fee every 5–7 years.

Add a comment