Wheel kickers get tyre inflation advice

A third of UK motorists (32%) believe kicking a tyre is an adequate test of whether it is properly inflated, new research has revealed.


More worrying still was the finding that almost one in four motorists (24%) don’t know how to check if their tyre tread depth is above or below the legal limit, a factor that may explain why two thirds of them (60.5%) have skidded on UK roads during the winter.

More men than women attempt to test tyres by kicking them – with 42% compared to 30% of confessing to the habit – though both are equally ill informed of what emergency solutions they have in their car boot to assist in the event of a puncture.

A startling one in eight (12%) of all drivers who took part in the research study for Halfords Autocentres did not know whether their car had a full size spare wheel, a space-saver wheel, or just a temporary puncture repair kit – highlighting the fact that they had never bothered to check.

In addition, only 14% of UK drivers considered fitting winter tyres compared with 27% of French and 85% of German motorists.

Related Articles

Card image cap

Cars could drive themselves sooner than expected after European push

 Cars could be driving themselves down the world's streets far sooner than expected, thanks to a change in a global treaty backed by European countries. A little-noticed amendment to the ...

Posted 9 years ago

Card image cap

PCL offers motorists tyre advice

It’s getting to that time of year when holidaymakers who enjoy self-drive breaks start to consider where to go and when. Whether you’re opting for a jaunt to the west of Ireland or further afie...

Posted 9 years ago

Card image cap

New website highlights the dangers of buying used tyres

TyreSafe, the UK tyre safety organisation has launched a website detailing the dangers, real cost and legal regulations on the sale of part worn tyres – http://www.partworn-tyres.co.uk/ Mill...

Posted 8 years ago


Tags

Road Safety