Motorists’ relationship with their cars has become increasingly distant, with a new survey commissioned by Apollo Tyres showing the majority of European motorists would not attempt to deal with a tyre puncture at the roadside themselves. Just 46 per cent say they would use the car’s supplied spare tyre or inflation kit, compared to 32 per cent that say they would instead call on a vehicle breakdown service for assistance, and 16 per cent who would seek help from a family member, friend or colleague.
Significantly, 11 per cent of the 6,000 motorists polled said they didn’t even know if their vehicle was fitted with a spare tyre or emergency tyre inflation kit. Younger people are more likely to say they have never checked whether their car was equipped to deal with a puncture – 16 per cent of those aged 18 to 24, versus 8 per cent of those over 65.
Older motorists are more likely to tackle a repair themselves. The survey found that 52 per cent of motorists aged 55 to 64 would use a spare tyre or inflation kit, compared to 45 per cent of those aged 18 to 24. Women are less likely to deal with a puncture themselves in order to continue their journey, with 34 per cent saying they would attempt to use a spare tyre or inflation kit compared to 62 per cent of men.
Vredestein premium tyres for passenger cars, which are manufactured in Europe by Apollo Tyres, incorporate multiple layers of reinforced materials that resist cuts and penetration by sharp objects.
Yves Pouliquen, group head of sales and marketing at Apollo Tyres, says: “In some situations it might not be possible for a stranded motorist to contact someone for assistance to deal with a puncture, so it is important that they have the essential knowledge and equipment to continue their journey. Our survey suggests that younger drivers are least likely to tackle a puncture themselves, so it might be very beneficial for guidance to be provided to everyone learning to drive, and for that knowledge to be assessed as part of the test procedure.”
