BERLIN: Less tyre pressure is supposed to give a better grip when you're driving a car - at least according to popular opinion.
But that's not exactly correct, according to the German inspection organisation Dekra.
On dry roads, the braking distance does actually become shorter as the pressure on the tyres decreases. However, at the same time, steering precision decreases and the car reacts more sluggishly - and at higher speeds, even becomes unpredictable.
On wet roads, the situation regarding braking distance gets flipped on its head: The fuller the tyre, the shorter it becomes. And if the pressure is below optimum, the consumption correspondingly rises.
Drivers should ultimately always follow the car manufacturer's recommendations, which depend on the load and are usually found on stickers in the fuel filler flap or on the B-pillar by the driver's door, according to the experts.
Regardless of whether the inflation pressure is significantly higher or lower than recommended, it usually has a negative effect on the behaviour of the tyres.
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