Almost 40 per cent of motorists driving on dangerous tyres, study finds

A Stock picture of a flat tire in Dublin city centre.  Picture date:Friday January 30th, 2009. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Offcial figures released today show car sales in the Republic of Ireland  have dropped by a fifth.   See PA Story TRANSPORT Cars.  Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
A Stock picture of a flat tire in Dublin city centre. Picture date:Friday January 30th, 2009. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Offcial figures released today show car sales in the Republic of Ireland have dropped by a fifth. See PA Story TRANSPORT Cars. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

The importance of tyre tread depth is well publicised, but other factors influence tyre safety too. A study by Kwik Fit and Michelin found that as many as 27.6 per cent of cars had at least one tyre "dangerously" underinflated – while a further 12 per cent had at least one classed as "very dangerous".

The study, carried out in supermarket car parks, surveyed more than 500 vehicles. The companies classified tyres according to how far below the manufacturer's recommendations they were inflated.

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