Motorists warned to check tyre pressure

As the severe winter weather causes chaos in the air and is likely to clog up the roads as thousands of travellers look to get away over the festive period, motorists have been warned that the cold could have also caused their tyre pressure to drop to dangerous levels.

Experts at tyre firm Goodyear insist that pressure typically goes down one to two pounds for every ten degrees Fahrenheit (F) drop in temperature.

Soft tyres cause drastic treadwear, generate excessive heat, reduce durability but most hazardously they impede steering control and braking grip.

"If the last time the tire pressure was checked was during the heat of summer, with temperatures around 80 degrees F, many people could be riding on severely under-inflated tyres without realising it," said Bob Toth, marketing manager for auto tires at Goodyear.

"Even though consumers can simply and quickly check the air pressure of their tyres, it becomes a neglected practice by many," he continued.

"That's too bad, because the four patches of rubber that come in contact with the road surface are vitally important to the performance of the vehicle. They are key for acceleration, lateral traction and braking grip."