69,32% of drivers don't care about tire pressure

During Good Pressure Week (October 4-8), tire pressure and tread conditions were checked by experts. Surveys conducted at the stations show that 69,32% of cars had the wrong pressure - 2% less than the previous year.

During the 6th nationwide "Pressure Under Control" campaign organized by Michelin and Statoil, 14 people were tested. cars. This year, drivers from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship were the most aware of the importance of tire pressure, with 51,27% of incorrect tire pressures. The worst were the inhabitants of the Lubuskie Voivodeship. On the other hand, checking the condition of tires used by Poles gave good results. The average tread depth is 5,03 mm - a tire with a tread of 1,6 mm is approved for road traffic in Poland.

The level of awareness of drivers in individual provinces turned out to be very different. In the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship - 51,27 percent. The tested vehicles had the wrong pressure, which turned out to be the best result in Poland. The next place in the survey was occupied by: Pomeranian (57,26%) and West Pomeranian (57,66%). The worst results were: Lubuskie, where measurements showed that 77,18% of drivers use incorrectly inflated tires, and Warmia and Mazury - 76,68% of the tested cars had incorrect tire pressure. At the national level, measurements showed that 69,32 percent. drivers use improperly inflated tires, which means that only 30,68% of drivers have the correct tire pressure.

The results of the action "Pressure under control" also showed that 8,17 percent. of all cars tested in Poland, tire pressure was more than 1 bar lower than recommended by car manufacturers, and as much as 29,02% from 0,5 to 0,9 bar lower. This level represents a serious risk to driving safety. Michelin recommends checking your tire pressure regularly – once a month and before every subsequent ride. A drop in tire pressure occurs naturally as a result of vehicle use, but can also be caused by lower ambient temperatures and even slight tread damage. Incorrect tire pressure reduces traction, increases stopping distance and increases the risk of a tire burst. In addition to improving safety, the correct pressure ensures longer tire life as well as fuel economy. A car running on tires that are 20% lower than the recommended pressure consumes an average of 2% more fuel.

The pressure should be checked "cold" - not earlier than an hour after the car stops or after driving up to 3 kilometers at low speed. The tire pressure must be in accordance with the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer and in accordance with the current load of the vehicle. Since 2005, when we launched the campaign, Poles' awareness of the problem has increased by about 17%. Six years ago, 6% of drivers used tires with the wrong pressure. Today it is less than 87.9%. We can consider this a success of our action. – said Iwona Jablonowska from Michelin Polska. – Many drivers still do not realize the importance of proper tire pressure. However, we are pleased that thanks to the "Pressure Under Control" campaign, we are able to reach a growing group of drivers every year and educate them about road safety.

The study shows that the vast majority of cars had the correct tread condition, and the national average tread depth is 5,03 mm, while the minimum allowable tread is 1,6 mm, comments Anna Pasht, Head of Marketing at Euromaster Polska. “We are glad that the Poles are aware of the dangers of using tires in poor condition and that most of them use tires with the correct tread depth.