Half of all tyres are under-inflated

10th June 2015

Only half of the tyre pressures monitored at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show were found to be within 10% of their correct levels.

What’s more, more than one in ten vehicles tested were found to have tyres that were under-inflated by over 20% – significantly below the tyre pressure levels recommended by manufacturers.

“The data we have collected clearly highlights that tyre pressure remains a concern,” said WheelRight Chief Executive John Catling.  “Indeed, the lowest tyre pressure read by our system during our CV Show demonstration was nine psi – a worryingly and extremely unsafe result.”

Visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to test WheelRight’s tyre pressure system for free by simply driving over the instrument, which was installed at the NEC’s East car park, and the results show that car, truck and van drivers are incurring needless costs through inadequate tyre inflation.  The company is urging fleets to adopt best practice by introducing daily tyre pressure checks. 

Tyre under-inflation of 10% typically costs the average HGV operator £1,000 per vehicle each year in extra fuel usage and tyre wear, according to WheelRight.  Meanwhile, the UK sees approximately 25 deaths and nearly 1,500 serious accidents every year attributed to poorly-inflated or defective tyres.

WheelRight’s tyre pressure monitoring system is currently installed at Keele Services on the south-bound M6, where both car and commercial vehicle drivers can check their tyre pressures for free.  The installation is running in conjunction with Highways England and site operator Welcome Break.