Britain is set for a heatwave this week, with temperatures close to or over 30C predicted for millions across the country. However, motoring experts are warning that the scorching conditions can make travelling by car more dangerous than usual. Danielle Lorenzetti, Chief Technology Officer of Apollo Tyres, told Express.co.uk that there are several things drivers need to take into consideration before, during, and after car journeys in the hot weather.

The first thing Mr Lorenzetti advised was to check the tyre pressure of your vehicle. He said: "For every 10 degrees the temperature goes up, tyre pressure increases by around 0.1 bar. Along with the risks of over-inflation, tyre grip can also get reduced, making it harder to stop quickly.

"Check your tyres' air pressure at least once a week, during warm weather. But do this several hours after you've last used your car and in a cooler part of the day, or else the reading may suggest incorrectly, that they are sufficiently inflated or even overinflated. You can find the correct tyre pressure for your particular car by looking in the official handbook or website.

"Check your tyres during journeys to see if they are too hot to touch. If they are, park up for a short while to let them cool down."

He added that any signs of damage should be taken seriously. He said: "Before any journey, check the tyre walls for cracks, lumps and cuts. If you spot something, don't take a risk. Get it checked by a specialist.

"If you can, park your car under a tree, in a garage or anywhere where there's a good amount of shade. Exposure to sunlight can not only heat the air within the tyres but degrade the rubber."

He went on to note that tyre treads on hot roads can be less grippy. So it is vital to make sure that worn tyres are replaced.

"Tyres at the front of your car are likely to wear faster than those at the back, due to factors such as braking and turning", he said. "So swap them diagonally to try to achieve more even wear. You should do this every 5,000 miles or so, anyway, but you should certainly do it during a hot summer."

He added that overloading your car when travelling for a break in the UK or abroad can also put strain on the tyres. To mitigate this, the CTO advised distributing the weight evenly throughout the vehicle, rather than loading everything into the boot.

Apollo Tyres supplies a range of summer, winter and all-weather tyres. To find your nearest dealer, visit www.apollotyres.com/en-gb/car-suv-tyres/dealer-page/