As tyres have only the area of the sole of a shoe in touch with the road at any one time, the firm says it’s a safety "no-brainer" to keep them in top condition, and extra care is needed at this time of the year when sudden heavy showers can profoundly affect tyre performance. More roads will also be worn out due to cut-backs on resurfacing, and this combination with worn out tyres is potentially lethal.

As a result, IAM Drive & Survive is stressing that drivers should check that tyres are correctly inflated and also check the general state for cuts and bumps and uneven wear. Tyres should be checked once a week and taken to an expert if there is any doubt.

Simon Elstow, IAM Drive & Survive head of training and field operations, said: 'Fleet managers and company car drivers tend to deal with higher mileages – and this is where there is more advantage to be gained from making sure tyres are in good condition. Under-inflation causes excessive tyre-wear, with every 10% under the optimum decreasing tyre life by 10%.

'Vehicles of drivers found to be at fault in high-speed accidents were found to be six times more likely to have worn tyres than those of the other drivers involved. As well as safety concerns an important point for high-mileage drivers is that under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.'