Tyres are not the most fashionable items on the car but you ignore them at your peril.

Those few square inches of rubber are all that comes between the car and the road.

There's an old saying: the brakes stop the wheels, but the tyres stop the car.

Yet surveys show seven per cent of motorists only check their tyre pressures and the tread depth once a year.

Under-inflated tyres wear far more quickly than they should. Tyre technology means they are far better engineered than they need be.

But that also means they are expensive things to replace and why run the risk of a blowout?

Experts claim a twenty per cent reduction in pressure can shorten a tyre's useful life by up to 30 per cent.

And checking the pressure is correct for the car can also make a considerable impact on your fuel bill.

The extra drag of neglected tyres will mean each fuel tank is three per cent less efficient.

Don't be tempted to add a few pounds per square inch.

Over inflated tyres can cause poor vehicle handling, reduced stability in braking, cornering and reduced grip.

It is recommended you check your tyres for wear, damage and pressure at least once a month.