Tyre pressure: the cheapest upgrade nobody does
Most drivers check tyre pressure only when a warning light comes on. By then a tyre can be well below the recommended value, and it has usually been that way for weeks.
Why it matters
An under-inflated tyre flexes more, heats up and wears on its shoulders. Braking distances grow, steering feels vague and fuel consumption rises a little with every missing tenth of a bar.
A five-minute routine
- Check the placard on the driver's door pillar, not the number on the tyre sidewall.
- Measure cold, before driving or after the car has stood for a few hours.
- Use your own gauge; forecourt gauges are often inaccurate.
- Do not forget the spare if you carry one.
Once a month is enough for most cars. Before a long trip with a full load, use the higher "laden" values from the placard.