Flat tyres cost drivers billions

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Hard-pressed motorists are allowing under-inflated tyres to cost them an additional £1.4 billion a year, research has found.

Kwik-Fit claims that as many as 46% of British cars are on the road with at least one under-inflated tyre. This equates to about 2.2 million extra tonnes of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere each year.

Despite soaring fuel prices, the figures compare badly with last year's - when just 20% of cars had an under-inflated tyre. Not only do under-inflated tyres need more fuel to travel the same distance as those with the correct air pressure, they can be dangerous and lead to crashes and potentially higher car insurance premiums.

David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit, said: "It's disappointing that, despite the extra financial pressure on motorists, this year's spot check found that the number of under-inflated tyres more than doubled in the past year."

"With fuel prices soaring, we hope that by showing how under-inflated tyres add to our fuel bills will provoke motorists into action. If not, then perhaps the impact on the environment will."

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