20% of cars have under-inflated tyres

Monday, March 12, 2007

Too many cars have under-inflated tyres
Survey reveals one in five cars affected
Owners need to check tyres regularly

20% of motorists are running their cars with under-inflated tyres - check them regularly

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A series of spot-checks by a major tyre-fitting chain has revealed that one in five cars has under-inflated tyres.

Kwik-Fit checked over 1300 cars across the UK and discovered that 20% of them had one or more tyres at least 3psi below the car manufacturer's recommendations. If those 1300 cars were taken as a UK percentage, that would equate to five million cars.

Many of the under-inflated tyres aren't noticeable to the naked eye, yet tyres which don't have enough air in them can result in sudden tyre failure such as a blow-out or tread damage, which can lead to loss of control of a vehicle.

Cars with under-inflated tyres also handle less well and braking is adversely affected, too.

To avoid these risks, you need to check your tyres regularly - either do it yourself with a good-quality tyre pressure gauge, or take it to a petrol station forecourt and use its tyre gauge and pump. Alternatively, take your car to a tyre fitter, many of whom offer free tyre pressure checks.

If you check your car's tyres yourself, always do so when the tyres are cold, as heat from travelling can adversely affect the reading.