- Tyre pressure checks avoid breakdowns
- EVs at twice the risk of a flat tyre call-out
- Keep a low-cost pressure/tread depth gauge in your car
The only pressure drivers should feel this Bank Holiday getaway is when checking their car’s tyres, says leading breakdown provider Start Rescue.
Keeping a tyre pressure gauge in the glovebox is a low-cost way to make sure you regularly check tyres are properly inflated, especially for EVs that are twice as likely to suffer a flat tyre.
“Correctly inflated tyres ensure the best handling, steering, braking, and fuel economy,” says Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue. “It also reduces tyre wear, which can lead to punctures or damage that might result in a breakdown. Easy, quick checks avoid this.”
This is a vital pre-trip check as 14% of breakdown call-outs are due to a flat tyre with petrol and diesel cars, doubling to 28.6% for EVs. With millions of drivers set to head away for the Bank Holiday weekend, you can buy a combined tyre pressure and tread depth gauge for less than £10.
James Luckhurst, Road Safety Manager of the Guild of Experienced Motorists, says: “It only takes a couple of minutes to check tyre pressures and depth with a simple tool, but it can save hours if your car has a blowout due to under- or over-inflated tyres. It also means you’re not putting you and your family’s lives at risk at the roadside in the event of a breakdown.”
You can find the correct pressure ratings for your car’s tyres on a sticker inside the driver’s door on most cars or in the owner’s handbook. Lee Puffett adds: “Drivers can make a handy note of the correct tyre pressures for their car to save time looking it up each time they check them. Make sure you adjust the tyre pressures if you are loading up with passengers and luggage to stay safe for a trouble-free Bank Holiday trip.”
Start Rescue has a 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, a five-star Defaqto* rating and has achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for six years running. Start Rescue has also been awarded best Breakdown Cover provider in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024 (www.finder.com), scoring 4.9 out of 5 for overall satisfaction with a 94% recommendation rate.
Launched in 2009, Start Rescue is an integral part of the nation’s fourth largest breakdown and recovery service, Call Assist, which now has more than two million UK customers.
For further breakdown advice, please visit startrescue.co.uk.