Pay particular attention to tyre pressure

Next to brakes, tyres are the most important safety devices on a car and any malfunction, especially relating to pressure can turn disastrous.
Inappropriate tyre pressure will compromise how you negotiate corners, the braking system and the stability of the car on the road.

It can also affect the comfortability of the car, fuel economy and lifespan of the tyre.
Many drivers, according to Ivan Kyeyune, a mechanic on Rubaga Road, only check their tyres after they have had problems forgetting that they are the only parts that connect the car to the road.
This, Kyeyune says, makes tyres a vital components of the car and ignoring them, especially in regard to giving them the right pressure, is a source of trouble.

Before manufacturers select a tyre size and specify a precise tyre pressure for a car, according to Norman Kakande, a tyre seller in Kisekka Market, they evaluate the car’s total axle weights, the anticipated use of the tyre, and the tyre diameter and width.
And any adjustments must put this in consideration in order not to jeopardise manufacturer specifics.
According to Paul Kangazi, a car specialist and a Daily Monitor writer, every car has its pressure specifications displayed on a sticker at the pillar between the driver and right hand rear doors, just above the latch of the driver’s door.

The sticker, he says, displays the manufacturer’s recommended tyre sizes and prescribed pressure.
Car tyres particularly lose more pressure during warm conditions and it is in such weather that you must check them more often.
However, you should note that manufacturers recommend different pressures for the front and rear tyres. But if your car is carrying additional load, it is advisable that you consult a specialist or your car handbook.

Tyres are usually given an allowance to carry some extra weight of the car itself but this should always correspond with the right pressure.
The extra allowance affords tyres to maintain better performance as well as keeping the car stable.
Most passenger cars are recommended to have tyre pressure of between 30 and 35 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch), especially when it is cold. According to Kyeyune the best time to get the true picture of your pressure is by checking before you drive the car.

“Do not expect to pull off the highway after driving for an hour to get an accurate reading. The friction between the tyres and the road increases the pressure. Thus distorting the reading,” he says.
If tyre pressure is too high, then there will be only a small portion of the tyre touching the road. This, according to Kakande compromises the stability of the car because of reduced traction and will consequently affect the efficiency of braking.
This is manifested in uneven tread wear with the tyre being affected more in the middle than the outer ring.

Similarly, if the tyre pressure is too low, then there will be a larger surface of the tyre touching the road which might increase friction.
This, as a result, Kakande says, will not only wear the tyre prematurely but might also cause overheating.

Signs of low pressure
Low tyre pressure is manifested in tyre squeal, especially when negotiating a corner or driving on a smooth surface.

This largely affects fuel economy as the car will require more energy for an otherwise simple drive.
When to check tyre pressure
Just because three of your tyres are fine it does not mean that the fourth one is also fine. Check all the tyres before you drive to uncertain that they have the right pressure and are road worthy.

The spare tyre
Many drivers have found themselves in this situation.
You get a flat tyre but after you have pulled out the spare tyre you realize that it has no pressure.
Once in a while check the spare trye and fill it with the right pressure to match other tyres so that in the event that you use it it will not misbehave.

Why you shoul check tyre pressure
Checking tyre pressure frequently allows you an opportunity to discover even the slowest of leaks.
Such leaks can letter be repaired before they bring more damage to the tyre.
Tyre pressures should be checked once a week, preferably before the vehicle has been driven.
Spending about two minutes a week will help you to get the optimum performance of your tyres. Preferably, you can check the pressure by using an air pressure gauge.

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