We had the car serviced last week (Skoda indy specialist - used for years) and first thing this morning I checked the tyres pressures as we're off on a long drive tomorrow.

 

All tyres read 245 Kpa.  Usually I set these as per manual/fuel lid indicator for 16" 215/45/16 tyres which is (low load) 210 kpa recommended.  

 

I think this is not the first time I've noticed higher tyre pressures after a service. 

 

I wondered if the garage gauge was out.  Of course, it could be my gauge, but as I use it regularly to set the tyre pressures on our Subaru and that consistency confirms via individual tyre TPMS the digital gauge I use when testing, I think my gauge is fairly accurate.

 

Any thoughts?

I never trust tyre pressures set by garages, tyre places or gauges at petrol stations, on manual or electric pumps.  Yes I have found garages and tyre places inflate to wrong pressures.

 

Goggle shows 210 Kpa is 30.5 psi (rounded) so say 30psi (2.1 bar) and 245 is 35 psi (2.45 bar) so the 'eco' setting, so they've set to 'eco' setting, higher pressure giving less rolling resistance for more mpg, it does make a noticeable difference to the car rolling along the road (and perhaps handling depending on your tyres and style of driving).

 

ETA: I always work in psi as I'm old and 30 (psi) or 35 is a lot easier to remember.

 

Edited 28 October, 20241 yr by nta16
ETA:

I’ve never heard of changing tyre pressures for different’ modes other then increasing the pressure in my winter tyres, so that’s good to know- thank you. Yes, I don’t know when I mentally switched to kpa instead of psi - these things sneak up on you sometimes 😀

Unless you are loading the car up so need more pressure in the rear yures, try running the tyres at the 'eco' setting for a while and see how you get on with it.  It's easier enough to let some air out if you don't get along with the 'eco' setting, you might notice some mpg difference on the long drive.

 

Have a read of your car's Owner's Manual as it will be full of info that could save you time, money and hassle (whether this info is in it or not).  Free VWŠkoda pdf downloads from their site if you don't have the very handy paper printed version. - https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

I've never noticed the "1 bar = 100 kPa" on that label until I posted the photo in that post, how long I remember that is another matter.

 

Good luck.

 

Edited 28 October, 20241 yr by nta16

6 hours ago, Ooopnorth said:

I think this is not the first time I've noticed higher tyre pressures after a service. 

 

6 hours ago, Ooopnorth said:

Any thoughts?

Most people don't check their pressures often enough.

Some garages, to compensate put them to the eco / full load / high speed pressures.

 

I often hear ' but they were checked at the last MOT '  😉

 

Thanks. AG Falco

 

The 35.5 PSI sounds pretty good,  30 psi pretty low. 

7 hours ago, nta16 said:

I never trust tyre pressures set by garages, tyre places or gauges at petrol stations, on manual or electric pumps.  Yes I have found garages and tyre places inflate to wrong pressures.

 

Goggle shows 210 Kpa is 30.5 psi (rounded) so say 30psi (2.1 bar) and 245 is 35 psi (2.45 bar) so the 'eco' setting, so they've set to 'eco' setting, higher pressure giving less rolling resistance for more mpg, it does make a noticeable difference to the car rolling along the road (and perhaps handling depending on your tyres and style of driving).

 

ETA: I always work in psi as I'm old and 30 (psi) or 35 is a lot easier to remember.

 

 

I agree.  Petrol stations used to be terrible for accuracy but they do seem to have improved a little.  When I was in the trade I used to take the opportunity to use my MOT place's air line while my customer's cars where in their yard.  (I used to always help them out with lifting, pushing dead cars, opinions and sharing special tools etc).   I once found their air pump 9 psi high when I checked it later.  To be fair they were quite ashamed and told me later on investigation they had found the needle on the gauge bent!

 

Who can really say that their gauge uncalibrated gauge is true?   I have a favoured gauge which has appeared honest over the years but I can only judge it against others that seem trustworthy and occasional TPMS reports as Ooopnorth says.  😊    

4 hours ago, Ootohere said:

The 35.5 PSI sounds pretty good,  30 psi pretty low. 

We run my wife's 2015 1.2 TSI 90 hatch at 30 psi, with a few different tyres all have been fine, we tried 35 and certainly noticed the difference in rolling resistance when rolling along the road but my wife preferred the car's handling (such as it is) at 30 psi and not 35 psi and it's her car that she drives so 30 it is.  Two of my neighbours cars that I drive are also 30 psi setting (makes it easy for me as I check the tyres) and they are also fine at that setting.

 

We have my Wife's Toyota Yaris at 30 instead of 33 psi because the ride is better.  We can both easily tell.  It's quite harsh at 33.