Drivers ‘urged to pump up’
Motorists are being urged to increase their tyre pressure when carrying heavy loads this summer.
Chris Hufflett of tyre distributor ATS Euromaster said it may seem like a simple, five-minute job, but the majority of drivers do not bother to do this.
It is particularly important to check parts such as wheels, wiper blades and car bulbs in the summer months when people are more likely to be travelling abroad and carrying extra weight, he noted.
Motorists are advised to check pressures when tyres are cold or at least an hour after the car has been used.
"Few people realise that it is the air inside a tyre which carries the weight of the vehicle and its load, not the tyre itself, hence nearly every car has two recommended pressure settings – one for ‘normal’ use and a higher figure for full loads," Mr Hufflett explained.
Driving on under-inflated tyres will also severely compromise handling and increase stopping distances, he added.
In other motoring news, the government’s new car scrappage scheme was officially launched today.
