FED: Wrong tyre pressure poses huge safety risk: survey

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-1998
FED: Wrong tyre pressure poses huge safety risk: survey

SYDNEY, Dec 13 AAP - Almost 80 per cent of car tyres are incorrectly inflated, posing a
major threat to safety, a national survey has found.

The annual survey of 1,000 drivers also revealed close to three quarters of all cars on
Australian roads were technically unroadworthy because of poor tyre condition.

Tread on front and rear tyres was considered dangerous in 67 per cent of tyres studied, the
Beaurepaires Safe Tyre Indicator found.

Beaurepaires general manager John Lindsay said the findings were a concern for motorists
because vehicles deemed unsafe due to tyre faults were a major hazard to all road users.

"Motorists are constantly reminded about the importance of wearing seat belts, observing
posted speed limits and refraining from drinking and driving," he said in a statement.

"However, it demonstrates that when it comes to tyres, drivers are just not as serious."

The survey also found 77 per cent of spare tyres over or under inflated.

This demonstrated that because of incorrect inflation, motorists could not rely on the
performance of the tyres, it said.

Just over half the drivers checked their tyre pressures at least once every three months,
with 15 per cent of the drivers surveyed admitting they never checked the pressure.

Motor Traders Association of NSW executive director Jim Gibbons today urged motorists to
check tyres regularly.

"Of the motorists surveyed, 93 per cent use their vehicles for weekend travel, business
purposes or for family use," he said.

"Given the everyday nature of this use, it is vital people check their tyres regularly. It
is simply not good enough to check tyres before an annual holiday or a long journey."

Mr Lindsay said this years survey continued to demonstrate the average motorist was
largely indifferent about the state of their vehicles tyres.

He said they were prepared instead to settle for second best regardless of potential
consequences.

"Having even balding or incorrectly inflated tyres can have enormous repercussions for
vehicle performance, braking effectiveness and steering, especially in an emergency," he said.

AAP jd/cjh/br

KEYWORD: TYRES SAFETY (WITH GRAPHIC)

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