Britain’s motorists are paying over £600 million a year in unnecessary fuel bills by driving with underinflated tyres, according to TyreSafe.
The latest data shows that 57 per cent of tyres being driven on Britain’s roads are at least 4psi below the vehicle manufacturers’ recommendation. And 35 per cent are at least 8psi underinflated.
Because underinflated tyres result in increased fuel consumption, motorists who cover over 20,000 miles a year could be adding over £100 to their fuel bill.
The same is true of tyres that have not been inflated to the right pressure for the load they are carrying. A vehicle manufacturer typically provides at least two tyre pressure settings: one when a light load is on-board and another when fully laden. It’s essential that drivers adjust the pressures to load they are carrying.
These settings can be found in your car handbook. They can also be found on reputable tyre pressure charts such as the one at tyresafe.org or in your vehicle’s fuel cap or door sill.
Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: “The colossal fuel bill of £600 million plus that we, as Britain’s motorists, unnecessarily spend, may just be the tip of the iceberg… Regardless, monetary considerations should be secondary to safety and TyreSafe urges drivers to make sure they check their tyres’ air pressure, condition and tread depth at least once a month and before long journeys.”
