Summer heat, tarmac and pressure

Asphalt in a UK heatwave can sit well above air temperature. Tyres pick that up. A car set correctly in May will read high in July afternoons.

Do not bleed to “make it look like 2.4” at 4 p.m. You will be low at 6 a.m. If anything, a heatwave is when under-inflation does the most shoulder damage.

Park off black tarmac when you can. It is kinder to tyres and to dogs. It does not replace a cold check.

Air-conditioning and holiday payload (four people, a boot of tents) are load. Use the laden column if the maker printed one.

Valve caps matter more in summer dust. Missing caps let grit into the core, which then leaks all August.