Keep your tyres fully pumped and in the best condition possible with our expert advice
Fully pumping your tyres is something that every driver needs to do but with so many myths about tyres bursting or wearing down, what should you believe? We asked our tyre experts for the top misconceptions that they often hear about tyres, along with some of the ways you can keep yours in top condition.
It’s compulsory for all cars manufactured after 2014 to have tyres checked via tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). But these systems don’t actually inflate your tyres themselves. It’s important to check that your tyres are pumped to the necessary amount every couple of weeks.
Damage to tyres is usually caused by wear and tear on the roads, but just because a tyre isn’t being used, it isn’t going to stay in top condition forever. Rubber tyres exposed to different temperatures can start to degrade, so it’s important to store them in a cool, dry garage if you can.
The “Max press” number on the side of your tyre shows the pressure that the tyre should be at when the car is carrying its maximum amount of weight: not the maximum that you should pump the tyre up to. This is a common fallacy with tyres: be sure to know the correct readings when measuring tyre pressures.
It’s a myth that if you’re replacing just two tyres on your car, you should do it on the front of the vehicle. New tyres less likely to puncture on the back of the vehicle, and there is a case of “understeering” your car rather than “oversteering” by placing new tyres on the back.