Research conducted by the German motoring watchdog, DEKRA, found heavy-duty washes could severely damage your tyres in just five seconds. Aiming the spray directly at the sidewall can cause tiny, barely detectable holes to appear on the rubber.

And TyreSafe, the UK's leading tyre safety organisation, says that if the sidewall is weakened the chance of a blow-out is greatly increased. It has also warned against using strong detergents which can remove important protective chemicals from the tyre compound when used with a high-pressure spray. The damage could reduce durability and grip, showing up on the tyre as a brown water mark.

TyreSafe has issued guidelines which could be life-savers to those unaware of the dangers. Avoid machines which run at pressures of more than 110 bar and use the widest possible spray.

It also advises owners of power washers to keep the washer nozzle at least 20cm (8 inches) from the surface of the tyre when cleaning and not to aim the water jet at the join between the tyre and the rim.