Under pressure? Don’t ignore your tyres

We all know that tyres are among the most unfashionable items on the car. But that doesn’t mean that we should ignore them.

We do so at our peril. Those few square inches of rubber that keep us in contact with the road may only be the size of a credit card. But rain or shine, that is all that comes between the car and the tarmac.

There’s an old saying: the brakes stop the wheels, but the tyres stop the car. It stands to reason that they can’t do that job properly if you ignore them. Yet a recent survey showed that is precisely what we do: seven per cent of motorists admit that they only check their tyre pressures and the tread depth once a year.

Under-inflated tyres wear far more quickly than they should. Tyre technology means that they are far better engineered than they need be. But that also means that they are expensive things to replace and why run the risk of a blowout in the meantime?

Industry experts claim that a twenty per cent reduction in pressure can shorten a tyres useful life by up to 30 per cent. Tyre waste is a major environmental headache. And checking that the pressure is correct for the car (including the loading) can also make a considerable impact on your fuel bill over the course of the year. The extra drag of neglected tyres will mean that each fuel tank is three per cent less efficient. That wasted fuel means more CO2 in the atmosphere

Don’t be tempted to add a few pounds per square inch. Over inflated tyres can cause poor vehicle handling, reduced stability in braking, cornering and reduced grip.

The IAM recommends that you check your tyres for wear, damage and pressure at least once a month. If you pick up a nail, or damage the sidewall on a pothole or a curb, you may be able to save the tyre before it’s ruined.