Study Reveals Tyre Safety – and In-Car Toilets – Important to Motorists

The people at Protyre were curious to know what motorists really want from their car. After all, many a man – and more than a few women – salivate after the type of hi-tech gadgetry tucked away in the latest James Bond car or those driven by the rich and famous. So Protyre conducted a survey and found that, yes, for a large number of us, the options list regulars such as air conditioning and satnav just don’t fire the imagination at new car purchasing time.

The survey, taken as summer was getting into full swing, showed more than 10 per cent of respondents would happily have an in-car refreshment facility, which would include a fridge, ice cream machine, cold drinks dispenser, fully-stocked bar for passengers, and a coffee machine for those early starts. In-car entertainment is also paramount, the study further revealed, with 45 per cent of motorists indicating they would opt for a flat-screen television linked to a games console, DVD player or personal computer. Whilst nearly a third of those surveyed would specify surround sound, an iPod docking station, bluetooth connectivity and a blu-ray player also topped the list of the most wanted technological gizmos.

Viewers of the ‘Pimp My Ride’ series are probably yawning at this stage – nothing mentioned here hasn’t been attempted before. However, the survey also indicates that 15 per cent of us really do crave for the comforts of home when we set out on a journey. This sizeable chunk of the survey population said they would even kit their car out with a bed, toilet, and heated floor mats!

Nevertheless, the study also showed that safety remains firmly embedded in the minds of drivers, says Protyre, with a quarter of drivers specifying an automatic tyre inflation system that would keep pressures constantly maintained, or a tyre pump as an alternative to having to reach for an airline on a garage forecourt.

Commenting on the results, Phil Brookes operations director at Protyre, explained: “When the boundaries of costs, imagination and vehicle design have no limits, it is amazing what drivers would want to have in their cars if they had a complete freedom choice regarding its specification, and could leave the conventional options behind. However, it is encouraging that drivers still regard tyres as a key safety component of their vehicle which are often neglected as many take to the road to go on holiday.”