Does temperature affect tyre pressure?

Temperature and your tyre pressure

Temperature changes directly influence the amount of air pressure in your tyres. This relationship can help you understand how to maintain the correct pressures throughout the year.

How pressure changes when temperature changes

For every 10°F (which is approximately 5.5°C) drop in temperature, the pressure in the tyre drops by about 1 PSI. This indicates that because of the seasonal changes in temperature, the tyre pressure can drop noticeably.

What this means in practice

• A warning light on your TPMS may indicate a cold snap, even if there is no puncture
• Tyres that were properly inflated in summer may be underinflated by several PSI in winter
• Over the summer, tyres may also become slightly overinflated

What to do

During autumn and winter, when temperature changes are the norm, check your tyre pressure more often. Although a TPMS is supposed to inform you about low pressure, do not rely on it. A manual check will indicate pressure drops much sooner.