Tyre pressure light on? Top up at home, or go to a garage?

The low-pressure light usually comes on at a bad moment. Here is a simple way to decide what to do.

1. Don't guess the number

Your car's correct tyre pressure is on a sticker, usually inside the driver's door frame, and in the owner's manual. Use that number, not the number printed on the tyre wall (that is the maximum, not the target).

2. Check when the tyres are cold

In UAE summer, tyres heat up fast on the road and the pressure reading rises. For the most honest reading, check after the car has stood for a while, ideally in the shade or in the morning.

3. Decide

• A bit low (a few units under the sticker value): a top-up is enough. Fill to the number on the sticker and watch whether it holds over the next days.
• Drops again within a day or two: there may be a slow leak or a nail. Get it checked.
• Completely flat, visibly damaged, or a big 4x4 tyre: go to a garage. A small portable pump is not the tool for that.

Doing the top-up yourself

A compact rechargeable inflator lets you do small top-ups in your own parking instead of a petrol-station queue. Look for a screen that shows pressure while you fill, nozzles for car and bike tyres, and a way to charge it (power bank, laptop or the car's USB port).

The Digital Tyre Air Compressor is built for exactly that: regular top-ups, with a pressure screen, a light for the dark and nozzles for car tyres, bike tyres and footballs. It is AED 119 with free 1–2 day delivery across the UAE, cash on delivery. It is not meant for a completely flat tyre, especially a big 4x4 tyre. QuickNest is a new store with no reviews yet, so you pay only when the parcel is in your hands, and you can refuse it at the door if it isn't right. More in our Car Gadgets UAE collection.