BERLIN: If your tyre pressure is too low, that is not only slowing down your braking speed but it is also likely to be raising your fuel consumption significantly.
Research shows that drivers whose tyres are 0.5 bar less than manufacturers' recommendations will use around 5% more fuel.
So check your tyre pressure at least every second time you stop to fill your tank - or at least once a month - and adjust it if necessary, says Auto Club Europa (ACE).
Some cars also display the air pressure automatically and the monitoring system will alert you if the value drops below the recommended level.
Car manufacturers usually make several specifications when it comes to air pressure. You can get away with a little less pressure, for example, if you don't have many passengers or not much luggage. But you will need more pressure if you have a maximum load, or are trying to drive economically.
The ACE says "economy" is the highest pressure that can be used as a guideline, and perhaps even 0.1 to 0.2 bar higher.
How much fuel you will wind up saving depends on the vehicle and tyres. All in all, we are talking about a few hundred millilitres saved per 100km.
