Why the forecourt gauge is not enough
The number on the fuel-station gauge is often optimistic, and the “32 psi for everything” habit is wrong for a loaded estate or a van. The correct pressures are on a sticker in the driver’s door shut, the fuel flap, or the handbook. Front and rear are often different. Pressures are for cold tyres — a motorway run into Heathrow adds heat and a false high reading.
Under-inflation wears both shoulders and can overheat the tyre. Over-inflation wears the centre and makes the car crashy on the Staines road patches. Our pressure guide explains the monthly habit; this page is the service if you want it done properly.
What the check includes
- All four tyres, plus the spare if it is a full-size or a space-saver you rely on.
- Valve cores and caps. A missing cap lets grit into the valve and causes a slow leak.
- A look at tread depth and sidewalls while the wheels are accessible.
- A note of any tyre that loses pressure again after it is set, which means a puncture or a poor bead seal.
If the TPMS light stays on after a correct set, the car may need a short drive to relearn, or a sensor battery may be dead. We will tell you which it looks like.
Book a check in TW19
Call in at Horton Rd, Stanwell Moor, or ask for the check when we are already with you for tyre fitting. Phone +44 7771 363978.
Questions drivers ask us
How often should pressures be checked?
Once a month and before a long trip, when the tyres are cold. Holiday runs toward the M25 are when a soft tyre shows up.
My TPMS light is on but the tyre looks fine. What now?
Set the exact placard pressure first. If the light remains, there may be a slow puncture or a failed sensor. We can check the tyre before you replace a sensor.
Do you use the pressure on the sidewall?
No. The sidewall number is the maximum the tyre can hold, not the setting for your car. We use the door sticker.