NEWS: Michelin Reveal Risks of Under-inflated Rubber
Research by tyre giant Michelin has revealed the shocking extent of danger – not to mention fuel wastage and cost – caused by running your car on under-inflated tyres.
The French tyre firm with operations in over 170 countries worldwide has revealed:
* 62% of cars on the road are running on incorrectly inflated tyres
* 62% of cars on the road are running on incorrectly inflated tyres
* 37% are so underinflated they are classed as ‘dangerous’ or ‘very dangerous’ &
* 5% of motorists are driving on punctured tyres
In addition, here in the UK, Motorists are wasting £246 million a year on fuel and putting lives at risk by driving on dangerously underinflated tyres, according to Michelin.
The tyre manufacturer analysed results from more than 23,000 cars in the UK and found that 37 per cent had at least one tyre classed as either “dangerously underinflated” or “very dangerously” underinflated.
In all, 62 per cent of vehicles were found to have underinflated tyres, while five per cent of vehicles had a tyre with a puncture and one per cent had tread depths below the legal minimum of 1.6mm.
The figures come from eight years of Michelin-run events and they suggest attitudes to tyre safety are not improving.
Jamie McWhir, car, van and 4x4 technical manager for Michelin in the UK, said: “The proportion of cars with dangerously underinflated tyres has pretty much stayed the same over the eight years we have been running our Fill Up With Air events. That’s pretty depressing when you consider the volume of vehicles and the implications. Seriously underinflated tyres are dangerous, they use more fuel, they wear out quicker and they cause the car to produce more pollutants and greenhouse gases.”
Underinflated tyres hamper road-holding, braking, steering and resistance to aquaplaning. Underinflation also reduces tyre life. Michelin recommends checking tyre pressures – including the spare tyre – at least every month and before every long journey.
Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “It’s a question of educating motorists to take responsibility for their safety and that of others on the road. Awareness among Britain's motorists of the importance of tyre safety urgently needs to improve.”
For more helpful tyre and general vehicle safety and economy advice, visit www.michelin.co.uk and explore the Learn-Share section.
* 5% of motorists are driving on punctured tyres
In addition, here in the UK, Motorists are wasting £246 million a year on fuel and putting lives at risk by driving on dangerously underinflated tyres, according to Michelin.
The tyre manufacturer analysed results from more than 23,000 cars in the UK and found that 37 per cent had at least one tyre classed as either “dangerously underinflated” or “very dangerously” underinflated.
In all, 62 per cent of vehicles were found to have underinflated tyres, while five per cent of vehicles had a tyre with a puncture and one per cent had tread depths below the legal minimum of 1.6mm.
The figures come from eight years of Michelin-run events and they suggest attitudes to tyre safety are not improving.
Jamie McWhir, car, van and 4x4 technical manager for Michelin in the UK, said: “The proportion of cars with dangerously underinflated tyres has pretty much stayed the same over the eight years we have been running our Fill Up With Air events. That’s pretty depressing when you consider the volume of vehicles and the implications. Seriously underinflated tyres are dangerous, they use more fuel, they wear out quicker and they cause the car to produce more pollutants and greenhouse gases.”
Underinflated tyres hamper road-holding, braking, steering and resistance to aquaplaning. Underinflation also reduces tyre life. Michelin recommends checking tyre pressures – including the spare tyre – at least every month and before every long journey.
Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “It’s a question of educating motorists to take responsibility for their safety and that of others on the road. Awareness among Britain's motorists of the importance of tyre safety urgently needs to improve.”
For more helpful tyre and general vehicle safety and economy advice, visit www.michelin.co.uk and explore the Learn-Share section.
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