Much like wheel alignment and routine maintenance, proper tyre pressure is necessary for your vehicle’s performance. Right pressure in car tyres results in a better economy and ensures safety.
Using a tyre pressure monitoring system is among the most common ways of checking air in tyres. Most modern vehicles come standard with TPMS. This is an automatic system; however, one should know how to check car tyre pressure without gauge in case the system stops getting power from the battery because of an electrical issue.
How to Check Car Tyre Pressure Without a Gauge
To start with, you need to know the correct PSI value for your specific setup. The PSI is the measurement for tyre pressure denoting the pounds per square inch. This is usually mentioned in the vehicle owner’s manual. Let’s go through the details on how to check car tyre pressure without a gauge with the analogue approach.
Eyeball Method
When you check your car tyre pressure regularly, you’ll know what the wheel looks like when the car tyre pressure is correct. You will also be able to spot a problem with the car tyre pressure at a glance. To ensure accuracy, the best method is to park your car on a flat surface and walk the perimeter. Pay close attention to any part of the tyres that protrudes more than the other tyres.
Hand Pressure Method
Apart from using tyre inflators, another conventional method to check tyre pressure without a gauge is by hand. Simply use your hands to apply pressure on the car tyres and see how much resistance there is. If it’s overly pliant, it means the tyres are under-inflated. On the other hand, no reaction at all is a warning sign they may be overinflated.
That is all about how to check your car tyre pressure without a gauge. That said, if you aren’t confident using these methods, you can always use different types of tyre pressure gauges.
Thumb Check
You can also just use your thumb to check the car tyre pressure. All you need to do is push your thumb down on the tyre to feel the pressure. If the car tyre is soft it means it is underinflated. If it is stiff, it is overinflated. When the car tyre is not too soft or stiff, it means the car tyre pressure is proper.
Mass Over Wheel Check
In this method, you mount weight on the tyre and check the level of deformity. If the tyres get deformed by 10 to 15 % it means they have low pressure and need to be inflated. After inflating them, again put weight on the tyres and check. If the tyres aren’t too stiff or too soft, it means the air pressure is correct.
Trail Check Comparison
You need a road with a flat surface or pavement for this method. Apply some marking substance on the tyres. Then, drive the car slightly and make marks on the road. After the drive, pay close attention to the trail that the tyres made.
Low-pressure tyres usually tend to leave a streak when compared with others. Inflate them and repeat until moderate car tyre pressure is reached.
Cargo Check
Add some cargo load on your car and check if the tyres are weighing down. Naturally, the cargo will weigh down any low-pressure car tyre. If one side of the car bears the cargo load more than the other, it means that the side has low-pressure tyres that need more air pressure. Add air to them and distribute the weight evenly.
That is all about how to check car tyre pressure without a gauge.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on car monitoring systems, car DIY solutions and more.
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