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Under Pressure Why tyre pressures are important
s I pulled into the garage to check my tyre pressures like I do most Fridays after collecting my son from school, he asked, “Why do you have to check pressures anyway?” I knew it was for safety reasons though I was a bit hazy on the details, and frankly I do it because it’s a habit I inherited from my own mother. So, let’s take a look at tyre pressures. Here’s an interesting fact: 40% of car accidents related to faults (as opposed to driver error) are related to under-inflated tyres. (Though I reckon you could class that as driver error too because they omitted to check the pressure.) Under-inflated tyres are the most common reason for a blowout, where a tyre disintegrates while in motion. Blowouts are super scary and extremely dangerous – especially on a so-called ‘smart’ motorway with no hard shoulder. Correctly inflated tyres last longer than those that are under-inflated. Tyres can lose 1-2 PSI (pounds per square inch) per month if unchecked, and driving on tyres underinflated by just 5 PSI can reduce the life of the tyre by 25%. If you are concerned about the environment, or
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Motoring
your finances, check your pressures. Under-inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by around 5%. Tyres inflated to the correct pressure improve vehicle grip, handling, and steering. Under-inflated tyres increase stopping distances by up to eight metres, and even more if the road is wet or icy. The car might also feel sluggish and hard to control. If your car doesn’t have power steering you will also find the steering even heavier with under-inflated tyres. So, under-inflated tyres are bad but don’t be tempted to over inflate them ‘for luck’ or to save you having to check them for a while. Over-inflated tyres are more likely to overheat on long journeys, again increasing the risk of a tyre blowout. They also make handling more difficult, especially on corners. The correct tyre pressures for your car can be found in the handbook or printed on the inside of the fuel tank flap, or the driver’s door aperture. They should be checked with the tyres cold, never after a long or fast drive. Toni Carlton
