The manufacturer’s recommendations refer to the pressure when the tyres are cold, not after you’ve been driving for some time. So it’s best to check at the petrol station down the road, not halfway through your journey. When driving with a heavy load such as a trailer, inflate your tyres to a higher pressure – check the sticker for advice.

Proper inflation gives you longer tyre life and better safety.Tyre Gauges Both over- and under-inflating your tyres will wear them out sooner. Driving with under-inflated tyres also uses more petrol, adversely affects your car’s handling and may even lead to tyre damage, so check the pressure regularly – for example, every time you fill up with fuel. Don’t forget to check your spare tyre too – there’s nothing worse than getting a flat tyre and finding the spare has no air either.

Gauges at petrol stations Tread Depth Gauges sometimes aren’t well maintained which may affect their accuracy. So you may want to think about getting your own. We tested 18 models costing from about $5 to $80 for accuracy and ease of use.