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How to inflate your tyres

3rd May 2022

Ensuring that your tyres are adequately inflated is paramount for road safety, as having the correct tyre pressure affects many aspects of your vehicle’s performance. This can include braking distance, steering, fuel economy and even tyre lifespan. Underinflated tyres wear down quicker and diminish tyre tread, whereas overinflated will similarly lessen your grip on the roads.

In our guide, we will teach you how to properly inflate your tyres to ensure that any risks to your vehicle's safety are reduced.

Checking your tyre pressure

Before inflating your tyres, you will need to check the air pressure. If you're looking to check your tyre pressure at home, this will require a pressure gauge that matches your vehicle manufacturer’s requirements.

However, if you are unsure of this, you can pop to your local petrol station to use one of their self-service pressure pumps. This is typically for a small fee - usually around £1. Once you have located the best way to check your tyres, you will need to understand what pressure they should be inflated to, which should be listed in your manufacturer’s manual. Alternatively, in some vehicles, the recommended tyre pressure is indicated by a label on the interior panel of the driver's door.

Inflating your tyres at a garage

Once you've learnt where to inflate your tyres, and to what pressure rating, you'll need to follow these simple steps:

  • Remove all the valve stem caps on the tyres that need air (remember to put these back on when you're finished!)
  • Adjust the machine setting to the recommended pressure (e.g. 35 PSI)
  • Insert the air pump into the tyre valve and squeeze the trigger
  • Keep squeezing the pump until you see the correct air pressure reading for your car on the gauge (the tyre pressure hose will likely hiss to indicate this, too, and the machine will make a beeping sound)
  • Repeat the process for all required tyres
  • Pop your valve stem caps back on your tyres, and you're ready to go!

If you are having issues with your tyre pressure, you can get a free tyre check at your local Merityre garage – we will check the health of your tyres and offer advice. Contact our team for more information today.