Tyres are undoubtedly the most critical safety component on a vehicle, yet most drivers ignore them and assume all is well unless they appear flat – at which point it is too late!

The vital area of grip where rubber meets road affects a vehicle’s handling, steering, stability, traction and braking.  Tyre failure, particularly at speed, can have serious consequences.

The NHTSA estimates that the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems, warning drivers of underinflated tyres, could prevent as many as 79 deaths and 10,365 injuries each year in the US alone.

Did you know?

• Nearly 250,000 accidents per year occur in the United States alone are caused by low tyre pressure.
• 75% of roadside flats tyres are preceded by a slow leak.
• Americans could save $2 billion a year by cutting their fuel consumption by 10%.  Or put another way, you could save $674 a year on fuel for your SUV just by keeping its tyres properly inflated.
• Up to 40 per cent of European motorists are driving on underinflated tyres.  This reduces their vehicle’s directional stability, decreases its fuel economy and increases the rate of tyre wear.
• 80% of motorists in the UK fail to regularly check their tyres.
• A tyre can lose up to half of its air pressure without appearing to be underinflated.
• A 0.6 bar drop in pressure increases fuel consumption by 4%
• A 0.6 bar drop in pressure reduces tyre life by 50%

The best tread designs and the most expensive tyres are nothing without the air that carries them along. Checking tyre pressure is a small investment in time compared to the costs of excessive tyre wear and fuel consumption caused by improper inflation.