Drivers urged to do simple 20p check before Easter getaway

Motorists are being urged to perform a simple and inexpensive tyre inspection prior to embarking on road trips. Neglecting to check tyre pressure can result in fines, penalty points, and potentially dangerous driving conditions. To ensure safety and compliance, drivers should insert a 20p coin into the tyre grooves; if the outer band of the coin is visible, inflation is insufficient.

Drivers are being told to do a simple 20p tyre check before they go on a trip. With lots of people driving over the Easter weekend, it's important to make sure your car is safe.

If you don't check your tyres, you could get a fine and points on your licence - with each tyre that's not right costing you up to £2,500 and three penalty points.

Richard Croft, tyre expert and operations director at etyres, says: "Neglecting to check your tyre pressure before embarking on a road trip is like leaving home without a map you're setting yourself up for a journey filled with unnecessary risks and potential hazards. It's common practice for Brits to rely on tyre pressure sensors, however these typically highlight a loss of 25% in tyre pressure. By the time these sensors flash, your tyre is severely underinflated, so tyres should still be regularly checked before road trips regardless."

To check your tyres, just use a 20p coin and put it into the grooves of the tyre, reports Wales Online. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit. If it's visible then you need to fill up.

If you've done this before, look away now - but for absolute amateurs, here's what you should do if your tyre needs air:

• First, take the cap off the tyre's valve
• To check your tyre pressure, first attach the pressure gauge by pressing it firmly into the valve stem - you'll hear a hissing sound as air is released.
• If you're using a digital gauge, the reading will show up on the screen. For a manual gauge, wait for the dial to stop moving before taking the reading.
• Next, find out what your vehicle's recommended pressure is - this information can be found in your owner's manual or on the driver's side door.
• Compare the reading on your pressure gauge with your vehicle's recommended pressure.
• If the reading is lower than the recommended pressure, you need to add air. If it's higher, you need to let some air out.
• Do this for all four tyres.

According to an online survey by etyres, over two-thirds of drivers (72.6%) confessed that they don't check their tyre pressure before every road trip. Only 27% of Brits make sure to check their tyre pressure each time. If your tyres are underinflated, you're more likely to have a breakdown. In fact, one in five motorway breakdowns are caused by tyre problems, says National Highways.

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