We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Tyre Pressure- Charge at Garages and service stations

It was nice to when I filled up with petrol at a service station in Sainsburys that the tyre pressure machine was free. Shell used to offer this facility but now charge for this function as do many other garages and service stations which seems very unfair. You do not get much time for your money and it cost me nearly a £1 last time Do any other chain/ supermarkets offer this service free.
«1

Comments

  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    You are better buying a decent gauge and pump to check at home.


    A lot of cars come with a pump these days as they don't have a spare.
  • Quiet_Spark
    Quiet_Spark Posts: 1,093 Forumite
    You do not get much time for your money and it cost me nearly a £1 last time Do any other chain/ supermarkets offer this service free.
    Most places charge now, but if you park in the right position and have all 4 dust caps removed before you insert your 20p then getting all 4 tyres done in one go is easily doable.
    Understeer is when you hit a wall with the front of your car
    Oversteer is when you hit a wall with the back of your car
    Horsepower is how fast your car hits the wall
    Torque is how far your car sends the wall across the field once you've hit it
  • ohreally
    ohreally Posts: 7,525 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Shell used to offer this facility but now charge for this function as do many other garages and service stations which seems very unfair


    Why do you find this unfair?

    There are costs involved in compressing and storing then delivering air, the on-going maintenance to comply with health and safety legislation, not to mention insurance requirements soon build up.

    Air may be free, its storage and delivery aren't.


    http://www.bcas.org.uk/compressed-air-legislation.php
    Don’t be a can’t, be a can.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,383 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As post #2, get yourself a cheap electric pump - under £5 at B&M etc., and a pencil type gauge, then blow them up at home, before you go for a drive.

    By the time you get to Sainsburys the tyres heat up (more so if they are low on pressure) and the readings won't be right when they are cold (which is how you should check them)

    Also, with a little electric pump in the boot, you can usually blow up your punctured tyre enough to choose where to stop to change it for the spare wheel.
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
  • Nilrem
    Nilrem Posts: 2,565 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 12 July 2014 am31 10:45AM
    Air pumps at garages are handy, but I wouldn't rely on them, or trust their gauges, they get so much abuse and mishandling.
    One of the reasons a lot of places charge* is because they have to keep replacing things like the inflator/gauge and hose were people drop it on the concrete, run over it etc.

    A simple gauge and foot pump can be had for a tenner, an electric pump for £10-15+ (although I'd get a separate gauge as the ones on the pumps aren't always accurate).
    We have a compressor in our garage that is handy for fully inflating tyres, or if I'm checking a bunch of them (IE sister and nepher bring their cars round), a small compressor in the boot of the car which is handy in an emergency, and a separate pressure gauge which is great for a very quick check.



    *Apart from for example the fact the pumps can cost several thousand by the time they're fitted, require yearly (if not much more frequent given the location on a garage forecourt) checks, repairs, servicing, insurance, spare parts, complete replacement when some numpty backs into it.
  • I sometimes use the one at ASDA, 20p a go and there is plenty of time to do all 4 wheels with a bit of time to spare.

    Obviously you remove the dust caps before inserting money wherever you go unless it is unlimited time.

    People need to realise that yes air is 'free' but electricity and maintaining the machine is not.
  • Avoriaz
    Avoriaz Posts: 39,110 Forumite
    I sometimes use the one at ASDA, 20p a go and there is plenty of time to do all 4 wheels with a bit of time to spare....
    Which you can use to do the spare tyre.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Avoriaz wrote: »
    Which you can use to do the spare tyre.

    Ah, spare tyre, I remember the days when there used to be one of those in the car rather than round my middle :beer:.
  • iolanthe07
    iolanthe07 Posts: 5,493 Forumite
    My local garage gave up on their air machine, even though they charged, because it was vandalised so often.
    I used to think that good grammar is important, but now I know that good wine is importanter.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,383 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    agrinnall wrote: »
    Ah, spare tyre, I remember the days when there used to be one of those in the car rather than round my middle :beer:.

    I have both :D

    Mind you, I had to buy the one in the boot off eBay, and it is flat, as it won't fit in inflated. :( (Why I have an electric pump)

    Apparently, I was "lucky" to be provided with some sort of left over wheelbarrow wheel rather than a can of sealant. :mad:
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.