How to fill tyres with air?

Tyre inflation is crucial step to ensure safety of you and your passengers. If your tyre air pressure is incorrect, it can result in high operating costs for your vehicle through premature tyre wear and abnormal fuel consumption.

In this article, you will learn risks when your tyre is improperly inflated, when you should check your tyre pressure and How to fill tyres with air in 3 simple steps.

RISKS WHEN YOUR TYRE IS IMPROPELY INFLATED?

UNDERINFLATED

• Increased fuel consumption
• Fast wear
• Difficulty in Road manoeuvring
• Increased co2 emission

OVERINFLATED

• Non uniform tyre wear
• Difficulty in road manoeuvring especially wet surfaces.

WHEN YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR TYRE PRESSURE?

Usually a tyre loses air 0.1 bar per month (1.45PSI).  Hence tyre pressure checks including the spare tyre must be done at least once in two weeks. This is accelerated by other sources of leakages due to:

• Punctured tyre
• Faulty valve: valve must be replaced each time the tyre is changed.
• Absence of valve cap: It is crucial to guarantee a good seal.
• Rim condition: it must be cleaned each time before fitment.

HOW TO FILL TYRE WITH AIR IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS

STEP 1: Find the required pressure for your tyres. Generally you will find the recommended pressure:

• The vehicle user manual
• Using the pressure calculator

STEP 2: check your tyre pressure

• Go to the tyre air pressure at a petrol station
• Insert the inflator into the valve of the tyre
• The tyre pressure gauge will show the internal pressure in PSI or bars.

STEP 3: regulate your tyre pressure

• Evaluate the displayed pressure on the gauge to the recommendation in the vehicle manual.
• If higher, release air to reach the required level.
• If lower, inflate tyre to reach the required level.

Portable air compressor: an alternative to petrol stations

The portable air compressor is a tool that gives out compressed air into your tyre. Most models have a built in pressure gauge to ensure the accurate pressure in your tyres.