UK motorists waste £337 million pounds on fuel every year by driving with under-inflated tyres according to new research by Michelin.
Following its 2011 Fill Up With Air roadshow, which has been touring the UK since May highlighting the importance of keeping tyres inflated to the correct pressure, Michelin has revealed that a shocking 39 per cent of motorists are driving on dangerous or very dangerously under- inflated tyres, whilst 5 per cent are running around on punctured tyres.
As a result drivers are using an extra 244 million litres of fuel and emitting more than 600,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Of course, excessive fuel consumption is not the only problem associated with driving on under-inflated tyres; they also increase in braking distances, give poor handling characteristics and reduced tyre life.
Michelin’s head of communications, Phil Baldock said: “It’s crucial that drivers understand the importance of driving with the correct tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres can not only put lives at risk but they increase the stress on a vehicle’s steering and suspension, cause it to use more fuel and thus produce more CO2. Not only does the right pressure improve safety, it is beneficial for their bank balance to have correctly inflated tyres and it also helps the environment.
“There are lots of ways that people can cut their carbon footprint and keeping tyres at the correct pressure is a simple and cost effective solution.”
