Written by City Wheels · G-10/1, Islamabad
- tyre-care
- pressure
- summer
- guide
Check tyre pressure when the tyres are cold — before driving, or after the car has stood for a few hours — and set it to the figure on your driver's door placard. Pressure rises as a tyre heats up, so a reading taken after a drive looks high even when it is correct. Never let air out of a hot tyre to bring it down.
Why does tyre pressure rise in the heat?
Air expands as it warms. As a rough rule of thumb, tyre pressure changes by about 1 psi for every 5–6 °C change in temperature. Driving heats the tyres further, so on a hot afternoon after a motorway run a tyre can read several psi above its cold pressure. That rise is expected and allowed for in the recommended figure.
Why you should not let air out of a hot tyre
If you set a hot tyre to the recommended pressure, it will be under-inflated once it cools. Under-inflation is the more dangerous mistake: the sidewall flexes more, the tyre runs hotter, and on a long, loaded summer journey that extra heat is what leads to tread separation or a blowout.
How to check pressure correctly
- Check in the morning, or after the car has been parked for at least three hours.
- Use the pressure on the door placard, not the maximum printed on the tyre sidewall.
- Use a reliable gauge — petrol-station gauges vary.
- Check all four tyres and the spare.
- If you will be carrying a full load of passengers and luggage, use the higher "loaded" pressure if your placard lists one.
How often should I check?
At least once a month, and before any long trip. Tyres lose a little pressure naturally over time. In summer, when you are more likely to be on long highway runs with the car loaded, the check before setting off matters most.
Signs your pressure is wrong
| Sign | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Both tread edges wearing faster than the centre | Under-inflated |
| Centre of the tread wearing fastest | Over-inflated |
| Heavy, vague steering and higher fuel use | Under-inflated |
| Harsh, skittish ride | Over-inflated |
| One tyre repeatedly low | Slow puncture or leaking valve |
A tyre that keeps losing pressure needs a proper puncture repair, not repeated top-ups. We check and set pressures for free whenever you stop by — and nitrogen inflation can help pressures stay more stable across long, hot runs.
Questions answered
Should I lower tyre pressure in summer?
No. Set tyres to the placard pressure when they are cold, whatever the season. The recommended figure already allows for the pressure rise as tyres warm up while driving.
Is the pressure printed on the tyre the one to use?
No. The sidewall figure is the tyre's maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure for your car. Use the figure on the placard in the driver's door frame or in your owner's manual.
