Treading on Thin Ground - Motorists Appear Ignorant To Tyres
Those Brits who do know their tread from their understeer are few and far between with the highest lack of awareness being amongst female motorists. Despite 38% of women drivers saying that it’s a common misconception that women aren’t interested in cars and 39% believing that there should be more female friendly car advertising campaigns, only a very small percentage know important car maintenance info e.g. what profile their tyres are (12%) what pressure their tyres should be (45%). In light of this, 42% women are even more concerned than men about spending too much on tyres due to not knowing the best.
| Knowledge Area | % Of Men Aware | % Of Women Aware |
| Tyre Width | 44% | 13% |
| Rim Size | 44% | 13% |
| Speed Rating | 28% | 7% |
| Tyre Profile | 37% | 12% |
| Rec Pressure | 70% | 45% |
Women are also less likely to get their hands dirty when it comes to taking responsibility with tyre safety with less than a quarter (24%) carrying out maintenance on their tyres, compared to over two thirds of men (68%). Almost half of females surveyed (45%) prefer to rely on their partner to check their tyre pressure and replace worn tyres etc. Today marks the launch of a new Europe-wide tyre labelling system which will de-mystify choosing tyres with a clear ranking illustrating fuel efficiency, noise levels and also how good the tyre is at stopping on wet ground. The system will increase road safety, make driving more cost-effective and also reduce the environmental impact caused by tyres. With almost three quarters of motorists (74%) unaware of the new regulations, UK tyre retailer Blackcircles.com aims to increase awareness of tyre safety and give UK motorists more power in the tyre buying business. Michael Welch, CEO Blackcircles.com, says: “With new European wide legislations coming into play from today, UK drivers will be able to get a ‘grip’ on independently selecting the best tyres to suit their car. With the results of the survey showing a clear lack of understanding when it comes to tyre safety, our aim is to make it easy for motorists, with the helping hand of the new system, and ensure that they aren’t being ripped off and more importantly, that their vehicle and tyres are safe on the roads.” |
