The Real Cost of Driving on Under-Inflated Tyres
A practical guide to reg tyre pressure for UK drivers, from the CarPal mobile tyre team.
Why people search by reg
It is the quickest thing to hand. You know your registration, and plenty of sites offer a lookup that claims to return your tyre pressures.
The problem is that a registration identifies the vehicle, not necessarily the wheels and tyres currently fitted to it.
Where reg lookups go wrong
Many cars are offered with two or three different wheel sizes from the factory. A car on 16-inch wheels and the same model on 18-inch wheels can have different specified pressures. A reg lookup often returns the default fitment rather than yours.
Second-hand cars are frequently on non-original wheels. Upgraded alloys, winter wheel sets and replacement wheels after kerb damage are all common, and none of them update the DVLA record.
Some databases also return the tyre’s maximum pressure rather than the vehicle’s recommended pressure, which is a significantly higher and wrong number.
What to use instead
The sticker inside your driver’s door frame. It was printed for your specific car with its specific fitments, it lists both normal and full load, and it is right there.
If the sticker is missing or unreadable, the owner’s handbook is the next best source. After that, a franchise dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Use a reg lookup only as a sanity check, and if it disagrees with your door sticker, trust the sticker.
Check the tyre size too
While you are at the door sticker, compare the tyre size it lists against what is actually fitted. If they do not match, someone has changed the wheels or tyres, and your pressures may need confirming.
The size is on the tyre sidewall in the format 205/55 R16 — width, profile, rim diameter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my tyre pressure by registration number?
Sometimes, but it is unreliable. Reg lookups do not know which wheels are actually fitted. The door sticker is definitive.
Where is the tyre pressure sticker on a car?
Usually inside the driver’s door frame. Some cars have it inside the fuel filler flap instead.
What if my tyre pressure sticker is missing?
Check the owner’s handbook. Failing that, a franchise dealer can confirm from your VIN.
Do different wheel sizes need different pressures?
Yes, often. That is precisely why registration lookups can return the wrong figure.
Need help with your tyres?
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