30 November 2023 , 13:24
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One in five drivers admit they rarely, or never, check the condition of their car tyres – with 12% saying they wouldn't know how to do so, research has found.
A survey of 2,000 motorists found that 18% are clueless about what kind of state their tyres are in – with seven in 10 saying they don't understand the information on the side of car tyres, and what it refers to.
One in four are not sure where their spare tyre is kept, and 28% admit they wouldn't know how to change one, anyway.
And over a tenth (12%) rarely, or never, check whether there is enough air in their tyres – with 45% uncertain about what tyre pressure their car needs.
Worryingly, almost one in five have ignored MOT advisories, and driven on potentially unsafe tyres – with 11% not acting on such warnings until their next MOT is due a year later, while 27% have put off sorting out these advisories for “months” after the mandatory safety check.
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It also emerged that 38% only ever buy new tyres as a result of failing their annual MOT – despite stopping distances being significantly longer with worn-out tyres.
And seven in 10 don't understand the information on the side of their tyres, or what it refers toThe research was commissioned by eBay UK to highlight tyre safety, as it relaunches its tyre fitment service offering a choice of more than 3,000 installer locations across the UK.
A spokesman for the online marketplace said: “Our research suggests millions of motorists aren’t fully considering the ramifications of driving with unroadworthy tyres, especially during the winter months.
“It’s not worth the risk when you think about how accessible and affordable a fresh set can be. We want to help motorists embrace the amount of choice that’s out there, providing that hub to shop and book fitment for new tyres around their specific needs.”
The study also found that, of those who are unsure about correct tyre pressures, 49% seldom adjust inflation depending on weather conditions – and similarly, 60% don’t do this to take into account number of passengers and amount of luggage onboard.
Further to this, 27% don’t know what to look for when purchasing new tyres, but 58% are clear on one thing – they believe tyres sold in garages are too expensive.
Despite this, the research, carried out through OnePoll, found 66% have never considered purchasing them from retailers other than a garage, such as online sellers.
The spokesman for eBay UK, which has more than doubled the number of garages in its UK tyre fitment network this year, added: “It's crucial motorists understand how car tread impacts stopping distances – especially in adverse weather conditions.”