car news

Tire pressure, everything you need to know

March 18, 2022

Tire pressure car

The tire pressure of more than half of the cars in the Netherlands is too low. Bad, because at any gas station you can check your tire pressure and inflate your tires. You will find the correct tire pressure for your car on a list that is hanging at the tire pump column. But it is also stated on a sticker on the B-pillar in the door opening on the driver’s side or on the inside of the fuel filler flap. Of course, the correct voltage is also stated in the manual of the car. So when you fill up the car, check the tire pressure as well – at least every two months, when the tires are cold.

scooter tire pressure

The correct tire pressure is also important for scooters. It is roughly 2.0-2.1 bar at the front and 2.4-2.5 bar at the rear. The ideal pressure differs per scooter and can be found in the instruction booklet with the scooter and on the side of the tire.

Tire pressure that is too low has the same disadvantages and risks for scooters as for cars: less stability, less grip, less safety, longer braking distance, more wear and more consumption. So check your tire pressure every month, not only if you drive a lot, but also if you drive little.

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Tire pressure engine

What applies to car and scooter tires also applies to the tires of your motorcycle. As standard, a higher tire pressure is recommended for motorcycles than for scooters: 2.0-2.5 bar at the front and 2.8-2.9 bar at the rear, but the exact values can be found in the owner’s manual. It is best to check the tire pressure for your motorcycle every two weeks, because motorcycle tires are naturally more heavily loaded than scooter tires.

Caravan tire pressure

The tires of your caravan must also be inflated. Precisely because you only take the caravan out of the garage a few times a year and then drive it at speed for large distances. If the tire pressure is too low, the tires can be damaged or even burst. Correct tire pressure improves the stability of the caravan on the road. And don’t forget to increase the tire pressure by another 0.3 bar before you park the caravan again. Tires always lose their pressure slowly.

Tire pressure trailer

Trailers often have smaller wheels and tires – 13 inches and smaller – and because the load on the tires is often higher than that of car tires, the correct tire pressure is also higher. The pressure for the small tires is often between 5.0 and 6.0 bar, for the larger tires it is often half that of a normal car tire.

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Tire pressure on license plate

The correct tire pressure is not stated on your registration certificate. No, you will find it on the list at the pump, on a sticker on the B-pillar or in the fuel filler flap and simply in the instruction manual. If you can’t find it all there, you can enter your license plate on, for example, the website watismijnbandenspanning.nl . Then choose your tire size and the correct pressure will appear.

Tire pressure winter tires

The correct tire pressure for winter tires is the same as for summer tires. Keep in mind that it is better to increase the tire pressure of winter tires by 0.2 bar if the outside temperature has risen above 7 o C. The same goes for all-season tires.

Tire pressure: light

Since 2014, all new cars are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. A light in the instrument panel – a yellow cross-section of a tire with an exclamation mark in it, on a black background – warns if the pressure in (one or more) tires is too low. Then check your tires and go to the garage if necessary.

Maximum tire pressure

If you are going to load your tires more heavily than usual (extra luggage or cargo), you can occasionally increase the tire pressure slightly. But you can’t do that indefinitely. The maximum tire pressure is indicated on the sidewall of the tire, expressed in PSI or KPA. However, we usually speak of bar. 1 bar = 14.5 PSI (or KPA) and 100 PSI (KPA) is 6.9 bar.

The maximum tire pressure applies to a cold tire. When the tire is warm, the pressure still rises by about 0.3 bar. So keep this in mind when you inflate the tire, so that you don’t exceed the limit on the way. Please note: if you drive with too high a tire pressure, the tire will not function optimally and the center of the tread wears faster.

Tire pressure: measure and gauge

It is best to measure the pressure of your tires when they are still cold, i.e. if you have not ridden much. The pressure of the tire increases by about 0.3 bar as you drive more and the tires are warmer. So measure the tire pressure immediately after departure at the nearest gas station, or at home before departure if you have a tire pressure gauge. Numerous meters are offered on the internet – not only by the ANWB, but also Bol.com, Coolblue, Conrad, Manutan, Toolstation, etc.