Under Inflated Tyres Cost UK Motorists £1 Billion

Avon Tyres believes motorists are wasting more than £1 billion a year and increasing the risk of accidents by not checking tyre pressures. According to the manufacuturer’s calculations, up to 90 per cent of vehicles on Britain’s roads do not have the correct pressure in their tyres.

This, in turn, is believed to have a knock effect that stings consumers to the tune of an extra £230 million on new tyres every year. Researchers said that at any one time, 90 per cent of vehicles had at least one tyre under-inflated by 10 per cent of the recommended pressure. This equates to a 15 per cent reduction in the life expectancy of the tyre or an extra £5.12 per year cost to the driver – or £230 million if extended to all UK drivers.

A similarly under-inflated tyre requires more power from the engine to get it moving, leading to a 2.5 per cent reduction in fuel efficiency. With the average car doing 30 miles to the gallon and travelling 10,000 miles a year, British motorists are said to be collectively shelling out an additional £790 million.

“The cost of failing to carry out this most mundane, yet easiest, of checks not only hits the motorist in the pocket but raises the possibility of a tyre failure at speed,” said Avon’s Malcolm Jones, adding: “It’s easy to forget that when you’re travelling at 70mph on the motorway the only contact you have with the road is four pieces of rubber the size of a postcard.”