The Correct Tyre Pressure Guide Every Driver Should Know

Tyre pressure is the single most neglected piece of vehicle maintenance in Australia, and it's also the cheapest fix available to you. Running the wrong pressure costs you money in fuel, shortens the life of a set of tyres by thousands of kilometres, and changes how your car handles in an emergency stop. None of that requires a mechanic, it requires a five-minute check with a gauge.

Where to find the correct number

Ignore the number moulded into the tyre's sidewall. That's the maximum pressure the tyre is rated to hold, not the pressure your vehicle manufacturer recommends. The correct figure is set by the people who engineered your car, and it's printed on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, in the glovebox, or on the fuel flap on some models. It's also in your owner's manual. Many vehicles specify a different pressure for the front and rear axles, and a higher pressure again for heavy loads or towing. Check for these variations before you fill up.

Why underinflation is the more common problem

Tyres lose roughly 1 to 2 psi per month through normal permeation, faster in hot weather or with a slow puncture. Most drivers check pressure rarely, so underinflation creeps up gradually and unnoticed. An underinflated tyre runs hotter, wears unevenly across the shoulders of the tread, and increases rolling resistance, which the ANCAP and Australian Institute of Petroleum both note can lift fuel consumption by several percent. It also lengthens braking distance and increases the risk of a blowout at highway speed, because the sidewall is flexing further than it's designed to.

Why overinflation isn't the fix

Running higher pressure than specified doesn't save fuel in any meaningful way and comes with its own downsides: a harsher ride, reduced contact patch in the centre of the tread, faster wear down the middle of the tyre, and reduced grip in the wet because less rubber is actually touching the road.

A simple monthly habit

• Check pressure when tyres are cold, before driving, or after they've sat for a few hours.
• Use the figure on your door jamb sticker, not the tyre sidewall.
• Check monthly, and always before a long trip or when carrying a heavy load.
• Don't forget the spare. It's the tyre most likely to be forgotten and flat when you need it.

Every set of tyres we fit at our Oakleigh workshop is set to your vehicle's specified pressure as standard, and we're always happy to top up pressure for existing customers even outside of a fitting appointment, just drop in.