text: Tyre pressure is measured in PSI meaning Pound Per Square Inch, which is a standard unit for pressure in all tyres. For a smooth, safe ride and long-lasting tyres, it’s important to find the right tyre pressure for your vehicle. Written somewhere on the side of your tyre, you may notice the words ‘Max. Press. 35 PSI.’ This number tells you the maximum pressure needed for your tyre to carry its maximum load. It’s important to maintain this pressure because too high or too low can have adverse effects on the performance of your car.
  Another place you’ll find your car’s manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure is on a sticker in the door jamb, or in your owner’s manual. Some models even place the stickers on the trunk lid, in the console or on the fuel door.
  Inflating your tyres above the recommended PSI can affect the handling of the car. Turning at sharp corners at high speed could flip the car over. It’s important that proper traction be maintained by the tyres on the road for this purpose. Also, when your tyres are overinflated, the rubber rounds out at the top of the tyre when you’re driving, and the centre will quickly wear out. This wil shorten the life span of your tyres.
  Underinflated tyres greatly increase braking distances and can dramatically affect steering handling. Also, when tyre pressure is significantly low, more of the tyre’s tread face touches the road and causes friction. This friction can lead to overheating, which can cause tread separation, tyre wear and blowouts in extreme cases. Vehicles with underinflated tyres see reduced fuel economy because this makes the engine work harder.