Pardon the pun, but if you’re a manager or business owner that operates a fleet of cars or light commercial vehicles, the chances are your vehicles are responsible for driving your company’s revenues and profits forward. If this is the case, you’ll no doubt already know the true value of your car and/or van fleet, and how vital it is to properly maintain it.
Vehicle downtime will be of utmost significance for you since any time your cars or vans are off the road will directly impact on your business’ productivity. That can be the difference between making a good profit or eroding your margins. And while you’ve no doubt given a lot of thought to who provides your general fleet maintenance and repair services, have you considered just how important the tyres you choose to fit on your fleet vehicles are (as well as when you replace the tyres) to your business’ bottom line?
Surprisingly, given just how much tyres contribute to the working order of fleet vehicles – and their subsequent productivity – not all fleet managers or business owners have. This is a missed opportunity, but one the Asda Tyres team will highlight in our latest tyre advice article.
Tyres are so significant in minimising fleet downtime
You’ll no doubt already be familiar with Fleet News, the highly regarded fleet sector magazine and online resource. They estimate that roughly one-third of a fleet’s maintenance budget is spent on tyres. Considering how many other different aspects of a vehicle’s well-being there are to maintain – such as the engine, brakes, suspension and electronics – one-third of the budget spent on tyres seems excessive. So what are the reasons behind this?
The type of tyres that business owners and fleet managers initially choose for their vehicles will make a huge impact on long-term tyre expenditure. Unsurprisingly, many decision-makers choose to go for the cheapest tyre option, in the belief that this will save some money. And while it’s true that initially, they’ll spend less, in the long run – more often than not – this proves to be a false economy. All told, in an exact like for like usage comparison, premium tyres will typically prove to be better value than cheaper tyres. More importantly, they’ll also keep drivers and vehicles safer too.
Why? Well for a start, the advanced rubber compounds that premium tyres are manufactured from – like those that are used for Continental car and van tyres – are far superior to those found in cheaper tyres. Tried and trusted brands like Continental invest millions every year in research and development (R&D) to ensure that their tyres meet the ever-changing needs of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. As a result, this investment in R&D provides fleet managers and business owners with tyres that are not only safer but ultimately provide better value too.
How so? Because independent tyre studies show that in an exact like for like usage comparison, premium tyres last longer than cheaper alternatives. They can also provide less rolling resistance, which in turn reduces fuel consumption. These two points alone should be enough to make fleet managers and business owners alike rethink using cheap tyres, but there’s more.
Given the superior strength and build of premium tyre compounds, in an exact like for like usage comparison, they’ll logically require changing less, and that means reduced downtime. This, in turn, means higher productivity, and ultimately greater profitability. And in a climate of tight margins and cut-throat competition, any reductions you can make to operating costs – including the tyres you choose to fit your car and/or van fleet – needs serious consideration, right?
Premium tyres: Not only more cost effective, but they’re safer too
Independent tyre tests regularly demonstrate that premium tyres are safer than their cheaper counterparts. It’s why tyre manufacturers like Continental consistently come out on top when their tyres are scrutinised by leading car experts, such as evo and Auto Express.
Over the past decade, Continental has won over 80% of tyre tests, and 2017 saw more success with a double win in the Auto Express Tyre Awards. The ContiPremiumContact™ 5 took the top spot in the summer tyre test category, while their highly regarded WinterContact™ TS 860 claimed first place in the winter tyre test. The simple truth is that premium car tyres like these consistently provide the best safety without compromising on performance, especially in wet weather conditions where they significantly reduce stopping distances.
The same is true for van tyres, where Continental offers a superb range of dedicated solutions for light commercial vehicle usage, including their highly regarded ContiVanContact™ 200, the superb Vanco™ Eco, and ever-popular ContiVanContact™ 100.
Changing tyres at 3mm of tread
From our experience with fleet owners and managers, vehicle tyres are typically changed only once the tyre tread gets down to 2mm. And while this figure is still within UK road legal limits of 1.6mm, it is – in our opinion – better to change tyres when the tread is down to just 3 mm.
Why? Because independent research and testing conclusively show that once tyres have only 3mm left, the tread tends to deteriorate very rapidly. In our experience, leaving tyres on until just 2mm of tread poses an unnecessary risk to driver and vehicle safety. Our view is shared by respected tyre industry bodies, including TyreSafe, the highly regarded UK tyre charity.
There’s also a financial incentive to change tyres at 3mm of tread. With deterioration rapidly increased, there’s a chance of inadvertently allowing tyre treads to go below 1.6 mm, resulting in them becoming illegal. And if your driver and vehicle have the misfortune of being stopped by the police, your business will incur a substantial fine – currently £2,500 – and three points on the driver’s licence, for EACH illegal tyre.
When compared to the cost of simply fitting good premium tyres, it’s simply not worth the risk to your business’ bank balance, your driver’s safety, and their ability to do their job, right?
Unsure about your fleet tyres? Talk to the experts – talk to Asda Tyres
Of course, different businesses will have different requirements for their car or van fleets. The Asda Tyres team have vast experience of finding the right solution for all fleet requirements. Contact us today to discuss fleet tyre solutions to suit your specific needs.
Click here to live chat to one of our experts, or find your nearest fitting station.