Under-inflated tyres are costing Britain's drivers an estimated £500 million in fuel and generating over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, according to Oxford based small business WheelRight. The company is trying to tackle the problem with a sensor which measures tyre pressure, tread depth, axle loading and vehicle weight. The sensor is designed to let drivers know which tyres on their vehicle need more air and which tyres need replacing.

The device looks like a slim 'sleeping policeman', according to WheelRight director Michael Taylor. Unlike other devices for measuring tyre pressure, WheelRight can check the condition of all the vehicle's tyres automatically and works on any road vehicle. The time taken to check tyres is greatly reduced, making it easy for motorists to ensure their tyres are always in optimum condition. The concept of measuring tyres in this way has existed for some time, but no one had been able to prove the idea.

Michael Taylor and Chris Berg, technical and operations director, devised the technology and patented a means of measuring tread depth. This was combined with existing devices to measure pressure, axle load and tracking. A prototype has already been produced and the company is now seeking commercial endorsement and regulatory approval. WheelRight will be aimed initially at commercial vehicle fleets. However, in the longer term, Taylor has plans to market the sensor on petrol station forecourts, so that the general motoring public can all benefit from the invention.

Visit www.wheelright.co.uk