Own a van? Advice on choosing the right tyres

If you own a small business, you’ll probably already believe that your van does a lot of the heavy lifting, powering you forward. It’s fair to say that the van is the modern-day workhorse, essential to your success. Businesses – no matter if they’re local SMEs or global corporations – rely heavily on vans, and, as a consequence, there are more and more of them on the roads every day – including yours.

Staying mobile is key to increasing productivity, customer satisfaction, and – ultimately – profit. No matter whether you have just one van, or run a fleet of them, keeping your van on the road is vital. And the key to avoiding unwanted downtime – that really iritating period when your vehicle is forced off the road and into the workshop – is vehicle maintenance.

You know this, you understand the implications of failing to adequately maintain your vehicle. But have you given enough thought to your van tyres, and the essential contribution they make to ensuring you stay on the road?

In our latest tyre safety article, the experts at Asda Tyres offer you insights on just how vital the decisions you make about van tyres are, and how making the right choices influence the performance of your vehicle more than you might imagine. Read on.

Did you know that vans require their own specialist tyres?

Offering the ultimate in versatility, vans – also known as LCVs, or light commercial vehicles –  come in all kinds of flexible configurations. Capable of carrying heavy, bulky and awkward loads, these vehicles come in endless variants with unlimited conversion options, suitable for every conceivable business requirement. And while van types may differ, what they all have in common is that they don’t simply sit around on driveways looking nice. Vans are pretty much out on the road all day every day, working hard for your business.

As a result, that means they accumulate very high mileage, placing a lot of demands on their tyres. If you’re a van owner, here are five things you should consider before buying new van tyres.

Van in traffic

1. It’s important to know what you want, and know what you need

It sounds obvious, but not all van drivers think it through. What you need to use your van for should determine what sort of tyres you need to purchase. Consider factors such as your typical payload type, the distance you usually have to travel, whether or not you’re driving on uneven or unpaved roads (like building sites, for example) and the level of driver comfort you require. All of these should be on your mind before you make your final purchasing decision.

By fitting tyres that are suitable for how your van is used, your vehicle will perform at its best. Not only that, you’ll be safer too, and – especially important for small business finances – you’ll have to spend less on tyres in the long run.

2. Making sure your van tyres have sufficient structural strength

While they may look similar to those fitted to passenger vehicles, van tyres are not the same as car tyres. There are a number of differences because they’re specifically designed to cope with carrying much heavier loads, continually run at much higher inflation pressures, and deliver the robustness needed for a working vehicle. As a result, there are different variants of van tyres to consider, all of which offer varying load carrying capabilities.

Van tyres described as Extra Load (XL) or Reinforced (RF) are originally based on car tyres, but have been reinforced so that they can carry higher loads, and run with higher pressures. Then there are those designated as ‘C’ tyres, which are designed specifically for use on vans and light trucks. These tyres have been especially developed to carry much higher loads, and can also be used in twin fitments.

Remember, before you make a decision on which van tyres to purchase, it’s best to make sure you check the manufacturer recommendations for your vehicle, consider your van’s typical usage, and always ensure that the tyres you’ve selected are fit for purpose.

ContiVanContact EU tyre label

3. Choosing the right tyres will help to keep you safe

No matter whether you’re driving a car or a van, there will always be times when you need to hit the brakes quickly and stop safely. In dry conditions this isn’t usually an issue, but if the road is wet – something we get a lot of in the UK – your tyres can make a significant difference, affecting whether you avoid or have an accident.

Take the ContiVanContact™ 200, a premium van tyre from Continental. It’s made from high-quality, advanced compounds, and has specially designed tread patterns which provide superior grip on wet roads. More grip means shorter stopping distances, and minimises the risk of aquaplaning, whatever van you drive. Purchasing a tyre with the best wet braking rating significantly improves your driver safety.

If you also factor in heavy, sometimes uneven loads, you can appreciate why fitting the right tyres to your vehicle can make all the difference when driving in wet weather. Premium van tyres will not only help protect you, your employees, and other road users, they also help protect your van and its cargo.

Continental VancoEco EU tyre label

4. Tyres with low rolling resistance will help to reduce your fuel bills

No matter whether you own just one van, or run a fleet of them, if they’re out all day every day they’ll typically accrue very high mileage. The tyres you fit will have a significant influence on the fuel economy of your van. For an occasional car driver this may not be such an important factor, but for commercial van owners the savings add up fast.

Then there’s also environmental considerations, like CO2 emissions to think about. Choosing a tyre with low rolling resistance means you’ll emit less and reduce your fuel consumption too. Continental’s highly regarded Vanco™ Eco tyre offers these benefits.

5. Cheaper tyres offer short term savings, but are a false economy

With costs rising and margins tight, it can be tempting to take a short term view and go with cheaper tyres. And while it’s true that you can save up to 50-60% on the purchase price, there’s a catch. Cheaper tyres are unlikely to last as long as premium tyres, with the possibility that they may even fail prematurely if used in really demanding circumstances.

Premium van tyres often have specially developed hard-wearing tread, a strong and robust carcass, and highly reinforced sidewalls. Such a tyre is the ContiVancoContact™ 100, which also features a “scuff rib” on the sidewall, providing even more durability since it protects the tyre from damage incurred through hitting kerbs.

And there are other downsides to fitting cheaper tyres. With the high mileage your van accrues throughout its lifetime, fitting these tyres can lead to a double whammy negative effect on your runing costs, because of requiring:

– more frequent tyre changes, and the accompanying administrative hassle this inevitably brings; and

– more ‘off the road’ downtime, resulting in lower productivity. Over time, this can be significant.

Leading premium tyre manufacturer, Continental, offer a comprehensive range of high-quality tyres for all types of light commercial vehicles – from the ContiVanContact 100 and 200, to the Vanco Eco, Vanco 2 and the Vanco Contact – thanks to their continued investment in tyre research and development. Their high-quality products are designed to last, help reduce fuel consumption, keep your vehicle running longer, and – most important of all – keep you, your load and those around you safer.

Continental range of van tyres

Talk to Asda Tyres for expert van tyre advice

With so many factors to consider when buying tyres for your van or van fleet – like payload, mileage, terrain and vehicle usage – it makes sense to get impartial advice from a trusted tyre expert, like Asda Tyres. Get in touch with our tyre professionals today about van tyre safety, fitting solutions, and much more. Click here to live chat to one of our experts, or find your nearest fitting station.

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