Drivers have been urged to check their tyres this week, with warmer temperatures set to sweep across large parts of the UK. Intack Self Drive has revealed some common mistakes people make while driving in the summer and how to avoid them.
A big mistake the site laid out is driving with improper tyre pressure. While this is crucial year-round, it’s especially important in summer when the heat can cause increased pressure in tyres. According to National Tyres and Autocare, a 10C change in temperature affects a tyre’s pressure by between one and two PSI. So, the change in your tyre pressure from summer to winter can be up to a 15% difference.
When your tyre pressure is too high, it can significantly increase the risk of a blowout. It can also reduce your traction since less of the tread is in contact with the road. This will make your handling less responsive, and your journeys ultimately less safe.
Letting some air out may seem like a good way of dealing with overinflated tyres. However, doing this could result in underinflated tyres when their temperature returns to normal.
This is important this weekend as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert for the first time this year, urging people not to venture outside between 11am and 3pm on Friday (June 13).
The warning covers some of the most heavily populated parts of the nation for the next four days, as the Met Office predicts temperatures could soar to 30C on Friday.
The yellow heat-health alert is in place from 9pm on Thursday, June 12, to 8am on June 15 and covers the East of England, East Midlands, London, and South East regions of the country.
The UKHSA said it was reminding health and social care services to prepare for further alerts throughout summer as temperatures continue to heat up.