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

Motorists urged to check their tyres

By Connor ORourke TyreSafe, the leading tyre safety organisation is urging motorists to regularly check their tyre pressure to improve the safety of their vehicle on the road. TyreSafe.org is ...

Posted 11 years ago

Card image cap

Are you Ireland’s Safest Young Driver?

Ireland’s young drivers are being urged to sign up to take part in a major road safety challenge which could earn one of them the title of ‘Ireland’s Safest Young Driver’ and the chance to dri...

Posted 11 years ago

Card image cap

Selling two, buying one? Ripped off on tyres?

Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on th...

Posted 8 years ago


Tags

Road Safety