Free UK lookup. Type your registration — get the right PSI in seconds. No sign-up. No payment.
How the lookup works
Enter your UK registration and the tool identifies your car's make and model from official vehicle data, then matches it against a database of verified manufacturer tyre pressures. You get the correct cold pressures for your exact car — front and rear, normal and fully loaded — in PSI and bar. If your exact vehicle is not in the verified database yet, the tool says so plainly rather than guessing, and shows you where to find the figures on the car itself.
Where to find your tyre pressures on the car
- Open the driver's door and look at the pillar — there is usually a white or silver sticker with the PSI values.
- If it is not there, check inside the fuel filler flap.
- Last resort: the owner's handbook, in the wheels and tyres section.
Why correct tyre pressure matters
Tyre pressure is the single most overlooked safety check on UK cars. The DVSA reports that roughly half of all MOT advisories on tyres relate to under-inflation or uneven wear — most of which is avoidable with a 60-second pressure check every two weeks.
The figures are cold pressures — the car parked for at least three hours, or driven less than two miles at low speed. A warm tyre reads 3–5 PSI higher than its true cold value, so never let air out of a warm tyre to "correct" it.
Loaded pressures apply when you are carrying five adults plus luggage, towing, or regularly driving on the motorway with a full boot. Bumping up to the loaded figure costs nothing and saves your sidewalls.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my tyre pressure? Once a fortnight and before any long journey. Check when tyres are cold — driven less than two miles.
What happens if my tyres are under-inflated? Increased fuel consumption, faster outer-edge wear, longer braking distances, and a much higher risk of blowouts on the motorway.
What happens if they are over-inflated? Reduced grip, harsher ride, faster centre-tread wear, and more vulnerability to impact damage from potholes.
Where is my tyre pressure placard? Usually on the driver's door pillar, inside the fuel filler flap, or in the owner's handbook glove-box section.
Are EV tyre pressures different? Yes — EVs are heavier and run higher pressures, typically 38–45 PSI. Always check the placard.
Tyres looking worn? Bob offers a free tyre check — pressures, tread and sidewalls, no charge. If the tyre pressure warning light is on, the make-by-make reset guides cover every popular UK car, and Bob's electric tyre pump picks start from £25.
Finding the right pressure for your car
Enter your registration and you get the manufacturer's recommended pressures for that vehicle. They are also printed on a placard inside the driver's door shut, in the fuel filler flap or in the handbook — and the placard on the car always wins if the tyre size has been changed from standard.
Most cars list two sets: normal load and full load. The full-load figure matters when the car is packed for a holiday or towing, and ignoring it is why a loaded car feels vague and wears its tyres unevenly.
Why pressure matters more than people think
Underinflated tyres flex, build heat and wear their outer shoulders. They increase braking distances, make the steering slow and vague, and burn extra fuel. Serious underinflation is how a tyre delaminates at motorway speed.
Overinflation is the opposite problem: a smaller contact patch, less grip, a harsh ride and wear straight down the middle of the tread. Neither extreme is safe, and the correct figure is not a matter of preference.
Checking them properly
Check cold — before driving, or at least two hours after. A warm tyre reads higher and topping up to the placard figure when hot leaves you underinflated when it cools. Check all four and the spare, and look at the tread depth and sidewalls while you are down there.
Tyres lose pressure naturally, roughly a few psi a month, and faster in cold weather. Monthly is the sensible interval, and before any long trip.
TPMS warning lights
A steady tyre pressure light means at least one tyre is low — check all four and reset the system. A flashing light for a minute at start-up followed by a steady light usually means a sensor fault rather than a flat tyre, often a dead sensor battery after six to ten years.
This is why a tyre sealant can is a last resort: many types coat the sensor inside the wheel and ruin it, turning a puncture into a puncture plus a sensor bill.
Tyre pressures by reg — front and rear are often different
Many cars run different front and rear pressures, so the lookup shows both. Front-heavy diesels often want 2–4 PSI more at the front; some estates and vans want more at the rear when loaded. Typical UK cars sit between 30 and 38 PSI (2.1 to 2.6 bar), but the right figure is the one for your exact model and tyre size, not a general rule.
If the tyres on your car are not the original size — bigger alloys or a different profile — use the placard figure for that size, or ask a tyre fitter. Bob's tip: set them cold at home with your own gauge or inflator rather than trusting a forecourt air line, which can be several PSI out.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my car's tyre pressures?
Enter the registration here, or read the placard in the driver's door shut or the fuel filler flap. The placard on the car wins if the tyre size is non-standard.
Should I check tyres hot or cold?
Always cold — before driving or at least two hours after. Warm tyres read high and you will end up underinflated.
How often should I check?
Monthly, and before any long journey. Tyres lose a few psi a month naturally.
What does the tyre pressure light mean?
A steady light means a tyre is low. A flash at start-up then a steady light usually means a TPMS sensor fault, often a flat sensor battery.