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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask you to explain adding air to tyres?

28 replies

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 16:06

So I tried to add air to my tyres yesterday. My car is a Mazda 2 and Google says the tyre pressure should be 36 for front and 33 for back tyres.

So I put my money in and select 36 on machine at petrol garage and start filling up. The first tyre went up to 36 but the others didn’t go up beyond 18. There were 2 cars waiting to go next so I checked the tyres were firm and then left.

Was I doing something wrong?

OP posts:

Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 13/08/2019 16:13

no you did all the right things ..apart from driving off! Let them wait! Our machines near us beep when they hit the amount we have put into it eg 36...I do all the tyres the same.I am wondering if you have to reset the machine on yours to a lower pressure for the back ones by adding another pound? Maybe next time you go do the two front tyres...then the day after go and do the back ones?I am not adverse when struggling to going and asking if someone can help me...which is quite often!!!

Thesuzle · 13/08/2019 16:13

Did you get the machine beep after filling the first tyre ?
Then you move on.
I think you might have to do front and back separately as you need to set different pressures.
Go round first taking off the valve caps and put them in your pocket, when finished pull off out of the way and replace, saves being hassled by waiting drivers.

onanothertrain · 13/08/2019 16:14

Had your money ran out? If that happens it usually resets although I'm sure default pressure is 26.

tobypercy · 13/08/2019 16:15

if they were as low as 18 the money you put in the machine might have run out before it finished the 2nd tyre?

lollipopguild · 13/08/2019 16:16

The machine should beep when they're done

adaline · 13/08/2019 16:17

Did it beep once the first tyre reached the desired pressure?

You have to go up and set the number, put your money in then go round each tyre individually. Put the nozzle thing on and wait until the machine beeps before removing it and going onto the next tyre.

50p is supposed to last 4 minutes or so which may not be enough to do all four tyres if they all need a fair bit of air.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 13/08/2019 16:19

Did you have air nozzle properly on the valve? Sorry if this is stating the obvious but you need to get it on and push slightly. If it makes a loud hissing noise the air is escaping and it's not going in to the tyre.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 13/08/2019 16:20

You need to sort them asap though, 18 is far too low and it's not ideal driving around with one much higher than the others either.

PawPawNoodle · 13/08/2019 16:21

Hi - if you drove off with your tyres at 18 that's half of what they should be, this is potentially dangerous and at the very least poor fuel economy! Get yourself back there.

Check you're putting the right values in, dont just google it as you cant guarantee its accurate. The sticker with the info will be in your car somewhere, check your manual to find out (mine have been on the drivers side plinth or on the fuel door).

Money in, set to PSI you need, push the nozzle firmly onto gauge and make sure no air is escaping, hold there until it beeps and then take off quickly and put dust cap back on. Repeat for other tyre, then change the machine to the next PSI and repeat. You'll know if the machine stops working as it won't make any noise.

bananasandwicheseveryday · 13/08/2019 16:36

We have a little machine that plugs into the car lighter socket. Attach to Tyre, plug into car lighter, switch on the ignition Set pressure to required number and off it goes, stopping automatically once it reaches the right pressure. Over it's lifetime, no more costly than using a garage and a lot more convenient as it can be kept in the boot and used anywhere. Was a godsend when I came out of work last week to find my car had a flat Tyre and would otherwise have been undriveable.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 13/08/2019 16:37

It could be that the tyre pressure machine was faulty, I would suggest going somewhere else to try another one.

Follow all the useful advice above. Potentially take a friend who's done it before too, to show you or for a bit of moral support. Everyone does something for the first time.

bananasandwicheseveryday · 13/08/2019 16:37

Sorry about random capital letters - phone auto correct.

Original poster

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 16:41

Thanks everyone. No I didn't hear a beep. I think the nozzle was on correctly on the valve, as there were no hissing noises.

I will try doing front tyres and then re-setting for back tyres.

My money did run out, I would have put more in if there wasn't a queue.

I will get myself back there pronto and read the manual beforehand.

Good to know it should be that easy

OP posts:

AuntieDolly · 13/08/2019 16:42

and take all the dust caps off before you start to save time :)

Original poster

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 16:43

That little machine sounds great!

I'll try a different garage (this was BP).

OP posts:

beccarocksbaby · 13/08/2019 16:51

Did you check what the pressure should be on the tyres rather than just google? Different tyres need different pressures depending on make, design, etc I have 4 different tyre pressures on my car at the moment (it's new to me and has had random replacements before).

AlexaAmbidextra · 13/08/2019 16:51

I’ve got my own machine that I plug into the cig lighter. It saves all that faffing about with people queueing behind you. Halfords, around £30.

Original poster

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 16:56

becca no I didn’t but I will. Actually I replaced my tyres a few weeks ago with new ones and the mechanic did mention that the pressures were listed on the lower body of the car on driver’s side but I can’t find them.

I’m getting my brake pads replaced on Saturday so I’ll ask him about the tyre pressure too.

OP posts:

Horehound · 13/08/2019 16:57

So you know you're money ran out...why do you think there was any other issue other than you needed to out more money in?

And why let other cars/people make you drive off rather than finish what you needed to do? Are you insecure?

Original poster

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 17:00

HoreHound because the first tyre filled up to 36 nice and easy and the second one just wouldn’t. And nor would the others. So I thought I was doing something wrong.

I’m not usually insecure but I thought I would admit defeat that day and come back when I was surer of what I had to do.

OP posts:

Wetwe · 13/08/2019 17:01

No, you do not run 4 different pressures! You run what is specified in the handbook or on the sticker in the door

Tonnerre · 13/08/2019 17:01

You might find its easier to get your own machine. I hated having to do my tyres at a petrol station with people queuing behind me.

CastleCrasher · 13/08/2019 17:01

The bit the mechanic was talking about is usually a printed label on the body work where the drivers door opens. If you open the door and look down low, near to where your seat cushion is you'll see it

tolerable · 13/08/2019 17:02

when you open the car door-there is tyre pressurre info on the little sorta sticker thing

Original poster

Cassilis · 13/08/2019 17:02

Thanks I didn’t look at the door Wetwe and Castle , that makes sense.

OP posts:

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