Is your car pumped for the holidays?
As motorists load up their car boots for the Christmas holidays, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)
says they should take a few minutes at the petrol station to check tyre pressure and give tyres a bit more air than
usual.
EECA General Manager Transport Liz Yeaman says when a car is loaded up with people, presents, luggage, or camping gear,
it needs help to carry it all safely. That extra energy will come from the fuel tank, but you can reduce the additional
fuel required by putting extra air into the tyres.
“As a rule of thumb, setting the pressure to 4 psi more than usual will be sufficient for the extra load. If motorists
don’t know the correct tyre pressure for their car, they can find it on the energywise.govt.nz website, in their car’s handbook or often on the side of the driver’s door pillar or inside the petrol flap.”
“The summer holidays are also a time we see more trailers and caravans on the roads. They may only be used a few times a
year but the tyres lose air even when not in use. If you have a trailer or caravan, check its tyre pressure while you
have it hooked up to the car – it will be easier to tow and save you fuel.”
Ms Yeaman says that motorists can save as much as 4% (8 cents per litre) by keeping tyres pumped to the correct
pressure.
EECA’s top six summer driving tips
Don’t speed - keeping at or under the speed limit is safer and will save you fuel.
Look ahead - slow down early and maintain a safe following distance.
Corner smoothly - don't brake hard for corners and accelerate out of them. Instead, slow down gently, negotiate and exit corners on a
light throttle.
Stay cool - air conditioning and open window drag can add up to 10% to your fuel bill. If it’s hot, use air conditioning and
close the windows when you’re on the highway or travelling over 50 kph, and open windows and turn off the air
conditioning when driving below 50 kph.
Don’t idle - turn your car off if you're going to stop for more than 30 seconds and plan your journey to avoid driving in peak
traffic when you can.
Check tyres - add an extra 4 psi to tyre pressure if your car is loaded up for the holidays, check tyre tread is at least 2mm (the
base of the number 20 on a 20 cent coin is approximately 2mm from the edge of the coin, so if you can see the whole of
the number, it’s time to replace your tyres).
ENDS