British motorists are collectively wasting more than £1bn every year by failing to keep an eye on their tyre pressure, according to analysis from Avon Tyres.

Research shows that up to 90% of vehicles on Britain’s roads do not have the correct pressure in their tyres, leading to reduced fuel economy and accelerated tyre wear.

Failure to regularly check their tyres means drivers unknowingly spend an extra £790m on fuel and £230m on new tyres every year.

Data from the Department of Transport also highlights tyre wear as a possible cause of 2,600 serious injuries or fatalities every year as a result of blowouts or tyre deflation. This represents about 7% of all road traffic accidents a year.

Avon has estimated that at any one time, 90% of vehicles on British roads have at least one tyre underinflated by 10% of the recommended pressure. This equates to a 15% reduction in the tyre’s life expectancy or an extra £5.12 per year. With 25m passenger vehicles on the road, that represents £230m of premature spend.

A similarly underinflated tyre requires more power from the engine to get it moving, leading to a 2.5% reduction in fuel efficiency. If the average car does 30mpg, and travels 10,000 miles per annum, British motorists are collectively shelling out an additional £790m.

"The cost of failing to carry out this most mundane, yet easiest, of checks not only hits the motorist in the pocket but raises the possibility of a tyre failure at speed," says Malcolm Jones, product manager at Avon Tyres.

Avon Tyres recommends motorists check their tyre pressures at least once a month