Oh yeah, we know it, you know it, we all know it. Check the tyre pressure. Yeah, yeah. Sure. But who’s really doing it? Well, to put it plain and simple, regularly checking your tyre pressure is critical to the safe operation of your vehicle.
Tyres lose pressure over time (funny that!), which is why they should be checked every two weeks and topped up as needed. Yes, you read that correctly. So we’ll ask again, who’s really doing it?!
Punctures are another reason for low tyre pressure. As you drive along, nails and other foreign items on the road may penetrate your tyres, causing the tyre to leak air at a greater pace than usual.
Checking your tyres if you discover the pressure is lower than normal is a pretty straightforward task.
A visual inspection is the first step. Is there one tyre that appears to be deflated more than the others? A brief walk around the car can give you a quick and easy indication as to whether a tyre’s pressure is too low.
If you discover a tyre that is lower than the others, the next step is to inspect the tread and sidewall for any foreign items.
If you can’t see any visible damage, you can use a spray bottle filled with soapy water to do a quick check. Simply spray all over the tyre, including the air valve and the area where the tyre meets the wheel face.
Both of these sites have the potential to generate a minor leak that is nearly invisible. If the area you’re spraying exhibits symptoms of bubbling, this means air is escaping. Nice work, detective.
Also be aware that small cracks in the tyre can also let air out creating a slow leak, lowering the tyre pressure without causing any noticeable symptoms. A little harder to detect a slow leak, but just as sinister in the long run.
You can verify where a leak is coming from if you have access to a large tub that you can fill with water.
Jack up the vehicle and secure it with a jack stand on a level, flat surface. Never work under a car that is only supported by a jack, as the jack could fail and cause significant injury. Read our guide to car jacks here.
Remove the wheel and submerge it in the water after the car is secure. If the tyre is leaking, a stream of bubbles will emerge from wherever the leak is. Simply remove the wheel from the tub and use a marker to draw a circle around the questionable location.
Then, yep, you guessed it, install the spare wheel on your vehicle and take the leaking tyre to a local workshop or tyre specialist to be repaired. Head over to the My Auto Shop service area to get started.
Many punctures, such as sidewall damage or debris near the tyre’s edge, cannot be fixed.
Repairing these regions is dangerous, and in some jurisdictions, it is technically illegal to do so because it might cause tyre failure at greater speeds.
Although replacing these tyres is more expensive than repairing a puncture, it is significantly safer for you and your family in the long term!