HOW often do you check tyre pressures on our vehicles?
A Venson Automotive Solutions survey has revealed that as many 45% of motorists don’t make regular checks and highlight the need for fleet managers to evaluate the impact poorly maintained tyres have on the cost and efficiency of their fleet, as well as the safety of their drivers.
Implementing an effective tyre management policy is key to meeting duty of care and containing fleet costs.
Gil Kelly, Operations Director of Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “Ensuring fleet driver safety should always be at the top of the agenda for any business, but it’s easy to overlook how important regular tyre checks are.
“These should be at the core of any tyre management policy, with staff trained to frequently carry out necessary checks, including tyre pressure, tread depth and damage.
“The provision of written reports by drivers – or the use of an online app, such as R2C’s digital driver pre-use check – detailing defects should be mandatory, alerting the fleet team or their fleet management provider of any issues.
“Once an issue is highlighted, appropriate action needs to be taken immediately, not after weather conditions give cause for concern. Fleet managers should ensure the company’s tyre supplier offers onsite tyre health checks on a regular basis.
“Grouping vehicles together for tyre health checks mean the tyre supplier can plan which tyres to stock, reducing the headache of vehicle downtime for fleet managers.”
Kelly said businesses should employ proactive vehicle maintenance, which means the fleet manager understands where a vehicle is in its contractual period, the type of mileage it’s doing and the type of driving it’s being subjected to.
“If a vehicle is at the end of its contract, and its tyre tread is at 2mm, it’s not worth replacing it. But if a vehicle still has six months on its contract and is due to do a lot of miles, then a tyre change makes good sense.”
Kelly added that while it may be tempting to invest in winter tyres, experience shows that all season tyres are usually enough and negate the need for extra storage space and expense.
Venson’s tips:
- Implement regular tyre maintenance checks.
- Staff should be trained to carry out necessary checks to ensure tyres are fit for purpose and of a safe, legal standard.
- If you have a tyre supplier, have them provide onsite tyre health checks to help pre-plan tyre stock to carry.
- Don’t forget tyre pressure checks at different times of year and according to vehicle loads.
- Proactive vehicle maintenance means businesses can anticipate when best to change tyres, depending on the contract length and expected mileage of a vehicle.
- Fit all season tyres to avoid the hassle and expense of storing and changing winter tyres.
