Tyres’ air pressure is one of the most important parameters affecting the traffic safety. It has the great impact on the tyres’ stickness to the road during braking and while cornering. Every driver should regularly check its value, especially nowadays, with 1-3 degrees at night, 4-7 in the morning and 10-15 degrees during daytime.
Check does not mean only look at the tyre, but also measure the pressure using the manometer. Otherwise we won’t be able to control the 30% pressure decrease, which is almost 1 bar. And it’s very risky.
Reduced tyre pressure by 0.5 bar is considered too dangerous, and by 1 bar very dangerous, as it causes disruption of driving stability and increases braking distance.
The correct pressure provided by the vehicle manufacturer is given in the manual of the vehicle and most often at the bottom of the stake at the driver’s side. Too low pressure causes faster tyre wear and makes it necessary to refuel more often due to increased rolling resistance. Inattention here has both security and economic consequences.
- Tyre pressure should be the same on each axis, because difference can lead to pulling the vehicle on one side or have an effect on the unequal braking – reminds Piotr Sarnecki, Director General of Polish Tyre Industry Association –
Special attention should be paid before long journey. The pressure must also be tailored to the vehicle load as it guarantees the optimal driving and braking. The more car is loaded, the more the pressure needs to be increased as it’s shown in the car’s manual.
- Also it should be noted, that the lower outside temperature causes a decrease in tyre pressure at about 0.2 bar at 0 ° C, 0.3 bar at -10 ° C and 0.4 bar at -20 ° C – Piotr Sarnecki adds.
It matters especially when weather conditions change during a month. It’s all about our safety. Only a tyre with pressure tailored to the vehicle works well for a few seasons.
- I check the pressure in my car once a week when temperature is permanently changing. Minimum what should be done is measure it every time when car is tanked or once per month - Sarnecki adds.
Vehicle drives on four wheels, but it is equipped most often with five. Not all the drivers remember to check the spare tyre pressure too. In an emergency situation, we may not have that option. Also in case when our car is towing a trailer, rear wheels’ tyre pressure should be slightly higher compared to the standard pressure, just like the vehicle producer recommends in the instruction when car is fully loaded.
Unfortunately, only 39% of drivers in Poland check pressure from time to time, usually when refueling or during tyre service visits. 41% of them know, that too low tyre pressure results in poorer control of the vehicle, 21% pay attention to faster tyre wear, 17% to higher fuel consumption. Not everyone also knows where to look for the correct pressure (23% can’t tell), others indicate tyre service (41%), vehicle’s manual (10%), tyres themselves (5%) or internet (4% ).[1]
Since November 2014 all new produced cars in EU are equipped with tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). It is a device allowing permanent supervision of pressure or controlling pressure changes during driving and transmitting the information to the driver. Their spread significantly will improve driving safety, but until that time drivers must carefully monitor pressure level in the tyres without TPMS.
How to check the tyre pressure?
The easiest way is to use the index in the compressor at the gas station (pressure gauge with digital readout). The measurement should be done only when tyres are cold, after maximum of 2 km driving. After reaching the station, wait for several minutes, because the measurement done on a hot tyre is not reliable.
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