CORRECT TYRE PRESSURE

We find most people using a tyre pressure in the order of 200 to 220 kPa (2 bar) in both the front and the rear tyres. It would also seem that this is the pressure that most service stations would recommend if a driver did not know the recommended pressure for their vehicle. When we have new tyres fitted on our vehicle, or have the pressure checked at most tyre dealers, this is also the range of pressures most likely to be used.

The motor vehicle manufacturers spend a fortune on design, development and then testing of vehicles before they are put into mass production. During this development and testing stage, they will evaluate different components, tyres being one of them, and will test them under many different and varied conditions, as well as with different tyre pressures. Ultimately, the vehicle manufacturers will approve the tyre size and brands for the vehicle, and these are the ones that would be fitted to the vehicle at the time that it comes out of the plant, known in the industry as the “OE” fitment.

At the same time the vehicle manufacturer will determine the recommended tyre pressures. These pressures will consider things like safety in the form of vehicle handling under different laden conditions, , vehicle handling and braking characteristics, comfort and fuel economy. You may also find differing tyre pressure front and rear.
Change to a non-approved tyre on a vehicle, or use a different tyre pressures to those recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and you will change the handling characteristics of the vehicle. Checking your tyre pressures at least once a month will aid in extending the life of your tyres.

The pressures are almost always indicated in the vehicles owner’s manual, and in more recent years, on the inside of the fuel cap, for easy access by the service station attendant. So the next time you want to check your tyre pressure, changing them to “2 bar” is most probably not the correct pressure at all!