Cold Tyre Pressure

Cold tyre pressure is a tyre’s pressure measured before it has warmed up from driving, such as before a journey.

Last updated: 19 October 2026

What it means

The Highway Code says to check tyre pressures weekly, before your journey, while the tyres are cold, because warm or hot tyres may give a misleading reading ^[1].

Why it matters when you buy

If you check pressures after driving, the reading may not match the figure your car maker gives. The Highway Code says tyres must be correctly inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification for the load being carried, and to refer to the vehicle’s handbook or data for the figure ^[1]. Check pressures before you drive, and use the figure from your handbook.

Related

• PSI, bar and kPa
• Tread depth
• Tyre pressure and tread depth: what the rules say
• Tyre inflators: how to choose

Sources

1. The Highway Code: Annex 6, Vehicle maintenance, safety and security, GOV.UK. Updated 22 October 2025, gov.uk. Checked 19 October 2026.