Review
Fleet operators are well aware of the problems associated with under-inflated tyres, but have they given much thought to over-inflation?
I was reminded of this when I checked the tyres on our Mazda2 long-termer.
Being a brand new car I didn’t expect to come across any problems but the tyre pressure gauge showed that the tyres were over-inflated.
According to the manual, the front tyres should be inflated to 35psi and the rears to 41psi.
With up to three people it changes to 32psi and 29psi. But I discovered that each tyre was at 40psi.
Warm tyres can give a higher tyre pressure reading (research from the IAM Trust suggests driving to a filling station could increase tyre pressures by up to 15%) but I had only driven a few yards to a nearby garage.
Could this have caused an inaccurate reading?
It shows the need for drivers to check tyres when they are cold. The IAM advises buying a digital gauge and a 12-volt air pump.
Aside from incorrect tyre pressures the Mazda2 has caused me little bother.
Its fuel economy is a major plus, helped by weight reduction which has been a key part of the Mazda2’s green credentials.
The new model is around 100kg lighter than its predecessor, bucking the market trend for larger and heavier superminis.
Most of my driving has been around town, which is happy hunting ground for the Mazda2.
Its light steering and tight turning circle make it ideal for negotiating city centres.
This has impacted slightly on economy, although an average of 47.3mpg is good for stop-start driving.
And, of course, the handling is even better now that the tyre pressures are correct.
