National Tyre Safety Month 2017

National tyre safety month kicks off with the question "Are you having a Good or Bad Air Day?"

A study conducted by TyreSafe suggests as many as 57% of car and van tyres on the roads are being driven below recommended inflation pressures, increasing vehicles' fuel consuption and the risk of being involved in an incident. Not only does the vehilce become more difficult to control, the amount of tyre in contact with the road can be halved. If it isn't touching the road properly, a tyre's grip is compromised, meaning it takes longer to stop, espcially in the wet.

A tyre can wear 10% more quickly if it's 10% below the manufacturer's recommended settings and the extra effort needed to turn the wheels means the vehicle burns more fuel. Research by TyreSafe shows an extra £600 million is potentially being spent on fuel bills by drivers because their tyres are under-inflateds. It's also adding the amount of CO2 the vehicle burns.

To reduce the risks while driving and save themselves money, drivers are reminded to check their air pressures at least once a month and before long journeys.

Stuart Jackson, Chairman of TyreSafe, said "Keeping tyres properly inflated is easy to do, keeps drivers and other road users safe, and saves money. It's a win-win situation so it's remarkable how many motorists don't ensure the pressures are correct for the vehicle and the load it is carrying. Tyre Safety Month is the ideal time to start the routine of ensuring every driving day is a good air day."

Vehicles typically have two tyre pressure settings. These will need to be adjusted depending on whether the vehicle is fully loaded or has a light load. Most vehicles have these displayed either in the fuel filler cap, door shut or even glovebox, but the will certainly be in the owner's handbook.