You have got to pump it up if you are a driver going on your summer holidays, according to motoring experts.

There are concerns motorists will not fully pump up their tyres when they set off on their holiday this year. Tyre pressures need to be adjusted to compensate for the heavy loads caused by extra people and suitcases in the car when going on holiday. If tyres are not properly pumped up then handling and stopping distances are affected.

With the recession taking hold it is expected more people will travel on Britain’s roads as fewer people choose to go abroad. That has led to fears of more accidents if people do not properly prepare their vehicles for long drives.

Group operations director for ATS Euromaster Chris Hufflett said: “If you are carrying a full load of passengers with luggage or will be towing, tyre pressures must be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Few people realise it is the air in a tyre which carries the weight of the vehicle and its load, not the tyre itself. Driving a fully laden car on tyres inflated to the normal setting will severely compromise handling.”