SAINSBURY’S has increased the minimum cost of pumping up tyres at its garages to 50p – bringing it in line with Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.
The store had until recently been the cheapest major supermarket for tyre pumping, offering 30p for three minutes after ditching free air last year.
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It’s now 50p for five minutes.
The change has hackled off motorists who say it’s another way of wringing them for more money.
One wrote on Twitter: “The tyre pressure machine at Sainsbury’s Banbury went up from 30p to 50p.
“It has always been 30p. Now they hike it 66%. Same machine. Just a sticker over the price.
“OK, it’s a small thing. But there are so many opportunistic price rises happening now.”
Sainsbury’s said the change had been made in response to customer feedback, and that the cost was competitive and in line with the wider market.
Last year the supermarket also replaced its free water for £1 screenwash.
The AA recommends drivers aim to check their tyre pressure every two weeks as driving with them over or under inflated can be dangerous.
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It said tyres at the wrong pressure can increase stopping distances, making crashes more likely.
One way around the forecourt cost is to buy a portable inflator, which can be bought for £12.99 from Halfords.
If you used it every fortnight – as recommended by the AA – instead of going to a supermarket garage, you’d get your money back in a year, or quicker if you have more than one car.
Going to other petrol garages may cost you even more.
Shell currently charges £1 for seven minutes of air pumping.
Sainsbury’s recently announced a major change to the way its Nectar card points are collected.
The supermarket chain has also released its Christmas 2022 advert.
The festive ad features This Morning’s own Alison Hammond as a fussy countess.
