Motorists in Germany don't check their tyre pressure often enough. The results of the Tyre Check 2002 campaign show that on around a quarter of all car tyres, the pressure is incorrect. Regular tyre pressure and optical checks can, however, help to avoid damage and detect creeping air loss. The correct air pressure also means the tyre's driving characteristics are substantially better and fuel consumption is lower.

According to the tyre specialists at Semperit, over ten per cent of all cars on the road have insufficient pressure in their tyres and that can have fatal consequences. Particularly at high speed and when the car is fully laden, for example, when setting off on holiday, the tyre is no longer able to handle the strain. It heats up far more than it normally would. That's when it may fail completely. Even if the tyre withstands the strain, steering performance and driving stability are considerably impaired. The fuel consumption also rises - just 0.2 bar less pressure and consumption goes up by ten per cent, because of the pronounced increase in rolling resistance.

To prevent tyre damage and keep fuel consumption low, the advice from Semperit is to check tyre pressure every two weeks. The correct tyre pressures are given in the car manual, whilst stickers with the correct values can also be found in the glove compartment, on one of the door columns or on the tank lid. You should also check the tyre for any screws or nails which may have become lodged in the tread and to see that no bulges have formed.

Having the correct tyre pressure is important for the safety of the vehicle and its occupants. It is also relevant for tyre wear, which increases substantially if there is insufficient tyre pressure. Just 0.5 to 0.6 bar less can reduce tyre life by 20 per cent. The risk of damage when driving over kerbstones is also greater - the tyre sidewall is more heavily compressed and may suffer damage which the layman does not notice. A tyre that has suffered prior damage in this way may burst under extreme load.Before undertaking any journey with a heavier load or at higher speed, the driver should also adjust the tyre pressure upwards. The vehicle manufacturers also give these values in their operating manuals and on their stickers.