One-in-four motorists won't check tyres

One-quarter of motorists about to embark on their Christmas holidays have admitted they won't be checking their tyre pressure, according to new research by NRMA Motoring & Services.

The survey of 1,500 motorists found that only 13% of motorists knew the legal tyre tread for their vehicle (1.5mm) and almost 30% would take their Christmas trip without checking their oil and water.

NRMA's Motorserve Car Centres also found that more than nine-out-ten cars getting serviced had under-inflated tyres on any given day.

NRMA Motoring & Services director, Geoff Toovey, said driving with the family this Christmas without getting the tyres checked was extremely dangerous.

"The state of our highways is bad enough in NSW - driving along them with unsafe tyres is a risk not worth taking these holidays,” Mr Toovey said.

Under-inflated tyres respond poorly to steering, especially in dangerous conditions and do not hold well on the road. Tyre manufacturers estimate that three quarters of accidents caused by "blowouts" are due to incorrect pressures. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure also improves fuel efficiency.

Driving without enough tyre tread is illegal and highly dangerous. In wet conditions a car will take longer to stop and there is a real risk of skidding off the road.

"The NRMA recommends motorists check their tyres once a fortnight, yet our research shows that only one-in-four are conducting regular checks. It is also important not to forget the spare tyre."

The NRMA survey also found that almost half (43%) of motorists had not planned to get their car serviced before taking a long trip over the holidays.

"Getting the car serviced before the Summer holidays is an effective way to ensure you are safe on the road and your holiday isn't ruined by an unexpected breakdown," Mr Toovey said.

"It's not fun to break down over the holidays, especially when it happens just before Christmas Day and the family can't get to their holiday destination on time. That's why we encourage motorists to get their car serviced before they go on a long drive."

NRMA has Motorserve Car Centres in Liverpool, Seven Hills and Tuggeranong providing a wide range of services including log book servicing, general car servicing, registration checks and maintenance of batteries, suspension, wheels and exhausts.

NRMA Members receive a 10% saving off labour costs with servicing and repairs.

For a checklist on how to look after your tyres and other motoring advice visit www.mynrma.com.au