Under Pressure: Why Tyre Pressure Could Save You Hundreds and Save Lives

At AutoGuru, we're all about keeping Aussie drivers safe on the road while helping you stretch your fuel dollar further. But there’s one thing that too many of us neglect, checking our tyre pressure. Research from Australia and overseas shows the dangers of letting your tyres get soft, it costs you more at the petrol station, wears your tyres out faster, and puts your life at risk.

Real-World Testing: What Happens When Tyres Are Mis-Inflated?

In a recent lab test, three identical tyres were inflated to different levels:

• 36 psi (2.5 bar) – recommended pressure

• 22 psi (1.5 bar) – under-inflated

• 51 psi (3.5 bar) – over-inflated

Each tyre was measured for rolling resistance, which is how hard it is for the tyre to roll along the road. The under-inflated tyre had a 4.5% increase in resistance, which means you’re using more fuel to drive the same distance. If you’re doing around 15,000 km per year in something like a petrol 2.0l vehicle, that’s an extra $270+ a year in fuel just from soft tyres.

Aussie Stats Back It Up

According to an NRMA survey included in a NRSPP Australia report, only 17% of tyres on Australian roads were both correctly inflated and fault-free. That means most of us are literally driving on a problem we could fix in five minutes at the servo.

Plus, the report estimates that eliminating under-inflated tyres could prevent up to 3% of all car crashes in Australia. That’s thousands of accidents a year, not to mention serious injuries and fatalities.

Safety First: It’s Not Just About Fuel 

Here’s where it gets scary.

In the lab, a car with all four tyres under-inflated to 22 psi took 1.3 metres longer to stop from 80km/h compared to correctly inflated tyres. On wet roads, grip was lost at lower speeds, and the car handled poorly in both wet and dry conditions. In one test, a car with just one under-inflated tyre (to simulate a slow puncture) skidded off the track entirely during a wet handling test.

The Aussie research confirms it. Under-inflated tyres:

• Reduce handling, especially during emergency manoeuvres

• Increase braking distances, especially on wet roads

• Elevate the risk of tyre blowouts, especially at highway speeds

• Reduce cornering stability, making rollovers more likely, especially in SUVs and utes

In fact, tyre defects made up 50% of all light vehicle defect-related crashes in NSW between 2003–2005.

Wear and Waste: The Hidden Cost

Letting tyres run under pressure causes them to flex more and build up heat, which wears them out faster. The result? You’ll be buying new tyres sooner than you should, and prematurely dumping tonnes of rubber into landfill.

According to research, every 10 kPa drop in pressure cuts tyre life by about 2.6%. Across Australia, improving tyre pressure habits could save 17,000 tonnes of tyre waste every year.

Green Bonus: Lower Emissions

Keeping your tyres pumped properly also makes your car more fuel-efficient, every 20 kPa (about 3 psi) of under-inflation increases fuel consumption by around 1%. That’s not just money, it's emissions.

Improving tyre pressure across Australian vehicles could save 100 million litres of fuel per year, cutting about 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

AutoGuru Tip: Time to Check Your Tyres, Mate

• Monthly checks are ideal, do it when tyres are cold, like first thing in the morning.

• The recommended pressure is printed on a sticker inside your driver’s door.

• Use a reliable digital gauge or head to the servo, many have digital air pumps that beep when you’re good to go.

• If you’re not sure, just book in with one of AutoGuru’s top-rated mechanics to do it for you.

It’s not just a bit of air, it’s your safety, your money, and the planet. Tyre pressure is one of the easiest checks you can do, and now you know just how much it matters.