TPMS, winter switch-over helps Canadians with tyre maintenance

ERJ staff report (DS)

Toronto, Canada - Canada has fewer under-inflated tyres thanks to more widespread tyre pressure monitoring systems and an increase in the switch-over to winter tyres. The bad news, however, is that individual motorists are taking less notice of tyre maintenance, leaving the task to computers and garage technicians.

The results come from a 2009 survey commissioned by the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) to mark National Be Tire Smart Week which started yesterday. The results were contrasted with a similar study from 2003.

The study, conducted for the RAC by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, found that 48 per cent of the vehicles inspected had at least one tyre that was under- or over-inflated. In 2003, a similar RAC driver survey found that 71 per cent of vehicles tested had one or more improperly inflated tyre. The percentage of drivers with one or more tyres severely under-inflated by 20 per cent or more - a potentially hazardous condition - also declined significantly to 10 per cent from 23 per cent in 2003.

The survey's not-so-good news is that fewer Canadian drivers (30% versus 39% in 2003) are taking monthly measurements to ensure their tyres are inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, a practice that is critical to ensuring optimum tyre safety, performance and fuel efficiency.

The RAC attributed the rising number of vehicles with properly inflated tyres to the dramatic upswing in winter tyre changeovers in recent years, public education about the fuel efficiency benefits of proper tyre inflation and the growing use of tyre pressure monitoring systems.

The study also found that significantly higher numbers of Canadian drivers understand that tyre under-inflation wastes fuel. When asked why tyre inflation was important, the top two reasons cited by four in five drivers surveyed were safety and fuel efficiency. In 2003, the top two reasons given were safety and longer tyre life.

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Press release from RAC