Often we do not pay attention to the tire pressure while filling petrol or diesel in our car. This is such a small negligence in the maintenance of the vehicle, which is ignored every day. But, you will be surprised to know that this small mistake is causing a huge loss of Rs 4,500 crore to the country every year. According to a recent report by the Automotive Tire Manufacturers Association (ATMA), more than 42 crore liters of petrol is being wasted annually in India due to low air pressure in tyres.
direct mathematics of air loss
Indian Tire Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC), the technical arm of ATMA, inspected tires of more than 1.3 lakh passenger vehicles across the country. In this, about one lakh tires were inspected in the last one year alone. The results of the survey are quite worrying. The investigation revealed that 32 percent of the tires were such that the air pressure was 20 percent less than the standard set by the vehicle manufacturer. At the same time, 21 percent tires were found to have 10 to 20 percent less air. Research conducted at the international level shows that a decrease of just 1 PSI in tire pressure reduces the mileage of the vehicle by about 0.2 percent.
42 crore liters of fuel being wasted on the roads
At present the annual consumption of petrol in India is about 56.77 billion litres. A large part of it is used by passenger vehicles, including two-wheelers. Based on survey data, it has been estimated that 0.75 percent of the country’s total fuel consumption is wasted due to underinflated tires. This simply means that every year 42.57 crore liters of petrol is being spent more just because people do not check the air in the tires of their vehicles. According to the current retail prices, the cost of this wasted petrol is more than Rs 4,500 crore. This figure is only for petrol. If commercial vehicles running on diesel, CNG or LPG are also included, the economic loss at the national level will be much bigger.
Along with the budget, there is also a huge impact on security.
Global fuel prices remain high due to ongoing tensions in West Asia. According to ITTAC Chairman Renji Issac, this survey exposes a hidden major economic shock to both the household budget and the national economy. Maintaining correct tire pressure is not only the easiest way to save fuel, but it can also control air pollution by preventing excessive exhaust emissions.
Apart from this, ATMA Safety Awareness Group Chairman Sudarshan S Gosain has also drawn attention to its serious safety hazards. Underinflated tires generate a lot of heat due to friction. Due to this, the handling of the vehicle deteriorates, it takes more time to apply brakes, which increases the chances of an accident in an emergency. Especially at high speed on the highway, the risk of bursting of such tires is highest. Additionally, this causes uneven tire wear, resulting in the huge expense of premature replacement falling directly on the vehicle owner.
What should be the tire air pressure?
Every car company gives correct information about tire pressure in the manual book supplied with its vehicle. It is clearly written in it that how much air should be in the tires of your car. Generally, 30 to 35 PSI (pounds per square inch) air pressure is considered correct for cars. However, this may vary depending on the model and company of your vehicle. For example, some sports cars require more air pressure, whereas in small and light vehicles it may be slightly less.
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