My steering feels light and slippery.. do I need new tyres?

[Chloe636]

For about the last two weeks I have noticed a real reduction in how easy it is to control. I'm not skidding all over the place or anything but it is really noticeable. I can't see any wear on the tyres particularly. Might they be over-inflated? I can't find anywhere what they are supposed to be. It is a Rover 25, Y reg.
Thanks

[TonyBeeeee]

Tyres cannot become over-inflated of their own accord, has someone recently checked the pressures and possibly over inflated them?

Be aware that tyre pressure guages can be wildly innaccurate, especially the dial types fitted to foot pumps. The best kind are the ones that are cylindrical with an indicator that pops out to show the pressure.

Tyres can of course gradually deflate and this could make the steering vague.

Also, sometimes roads get greasy when there hasn't been much rain (as if that ever happens in Britain these days) and its wise to be cautious when it rains after a dry spell: all the accumulated crud (oil, bits of rubber etc) can turn very slippery after the first bit of rain.

If you are unsure, and don't have a tame mechanic or buddy into cars, go to a tyre place or 2 and see what they say about tread depth you have left on the tyres generally. I say go to one or 2 so that you don't get an over-eager salesman telling you you need to buy a full set of the most expensive tyres they have, of course.

[Chloe636]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I checked my pressures but I only recently bought the car and couldn't find anywhere what pressure they are supposed to be... so I just went with the highest which was 36 on one of the back ones. Obviously not a great idea but didn't know what else to do!

I think I'll pop into a tyre lace tomorrow then, thanks again. Very useful information.

[Panic Button]

This suggests about 28 - 30 all round depending on your engine size. 36 would be a bit high

http://www.thetyrepressuremonitor.com/tyrepres sures_rover.html

Incidentally tyre pressures do increase, if they are set in cold weather and it warms up significantly. Remember your physics at school, increase temperature equals increase pressure

[chas2008]

worth checking the tyre make, some of the cheapo budget ones are quite hard compound and really are not that clever especialy in the wet, one or two know in the trade as 'ditch finders' or 'deathslides' !!! and this is by the people who sell them....