Must the tire pressures of all four tires be the same?
2 Answers
The tire pressures of all four tires on a car do not necessarily have to be identical. Generally, the front two tires will have slightly higher pressure than the rear ones. For example, the front tires might be at 2.4, while the rear tires are at 2.3. Here is some information about tire pressure: 1. The normal tire pressure for most vehicles is around 2.2-2.5, but this is just a reference value. For the exact recommended pressure, you should check your vehicle's user manual or the area near the door (B-pillar or C-pillar), where the manufacturer provides the recommended cold tire pressure. 2. If you notice a significant inconsistency in tire pressure while driving at high speeds, you should pull over as soon as possible. Wait for the tires to cool down naturally. Avoid releasing air or splashing cold water on hot tires. Once the tires have cooled, inspect each one individually.
Just a couple of days ago, I noticed my car was pulling slightly to one side. After taking it to the repair shop, I found out the right rear tire pressure was 0.5bar lower than the left. Actually, the four tires don't need to have completely identical pressure, but a difference exceeding 0.3bar can easily cause issues. The manufacturer's recommended values are usually posted on the door frame or fuel filler cap, and there can be reasonable differences between the front and rear axles. For my front-wheel-drive car, for example, the recommended pressure is 2.4bar for the front tires and 2.2bar for the rear, which works well. If the pressure difference between the four tires is too large, not only does it wear out the tires faster and increase fuel consumption, but it also makes the car prone to losing control when turning in the rain. I've now made it a habit to check and adjust the pressure monthly using an electric air pump, measuring when the tires are cold for the most accuracy. As a side note, remember to increase the pressure by 0.2-0.3bar when the car is fully loaded, especially for the rear tires.
