The 'forgotten' £5 tool that can save you thousands on car bills

A car expert has revealed a £5 item that can save motorists thousands on their repair bills. The humble item may be sitting around in your garage and could be the answer to prevent expensive problems before they start.

According to Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at Ovoko, a basic tyre gauge can be a game-changer for drivers. While most modern cars are fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems, they are sometimes not entirely reliable. According to Urbonas, they only alert people when pressure drops 25% below recommended levels.

By this point, damage is already being caused to the car. However, a manual gauge gives precise readings and is always reliable and accurate.

They also never fail and don't require batteries. Urbonas said this humble tool can "save you thousands", explaining: "Compare that to replacing shock absorbers at £400, or premature tyre replacement at £300-600. The math is obvious."

He added: "People go out and spend hundreds on fancy car accessories but usually overlook the one item that could genuinely save them thousands. A simple tyre pressure gauge is hands down the best investment any driver can make for their car's health."

As well as saving money, properly inflated tyres make cars safer. They help improve the handling of the vehicle, reduce stopping distances and provide improved grip in wet weather.

Fuel economy also drops considerably when tyres become underinflated. It can fall by up to 4% when tyre pressure drops by just 10 PSI.

Lower pressure also forces the engine to work harder and puts strain on suspension components. It can even cause increased wear to tyres which cost money to replace.

Urbonas said: "After years in the automotive parts industry, I've learned that the most expensive problems often have the simplest solutions. Every week, we process orders for suspension components, brake parts, and wheel bearings that failed prematurely - and in many cases, regular tyre pressure checks could have prevented that damage entirely.

"Think about it: a £5 gauge used for two minutes once a month versus a £400 suspension repair, or £600 for a new set of tyres that should have lasted twice as long. When you maintain proper tyre pressure, every other system in your car works as it should. Your fuel bills stay lower, your tyres wear evenly, and your suspension components aren't constantly fighting against improper contact with the road.

"The smartest car owners I know are not the ones spending money on expensive gadgets, but the ones who understand that small, consistent habits prevent big, expensive problems. A tyre pressure gauge becomes the best insurance policy your car can have."