TRANSPORT
Drive down costs with better tyre management
Marco Capozzoli, public sector manager at Volkswagen Group Leasing, explains the advice that it and tyre partners Michelin and ATS Euromaster offer to get more out of your tyres and drive down fleet running costs.
W
ith public sector budgets constantly being squeezed, fleet managers are
increasingly pressured into finding new ways of reducing their costs. So it’s surprising that many organisations and drivers don’t recognise the cost-cutting benefits of looking after fleet vehicles’ tyres.
Research from Tyresafe reports that 20% of drivers across the UK are unaware that running a car on under-inflated tyres leads to an increase in fuel consumption.
Michelin has been Volkswagen Group Leasing’s tyre partner for a number of years and helps our public sector fleet customers understand how to look after their tyres. This is through internal and external staff education, roadshows and product demonstrations. However, even with this ongoing support, good tyre husbandry is essentially down to the organisation and involves monthly checks of both the tyre tread and tyre pressure.
Peter Wood, key account manager at Michelin, commented: “It only takes a few minutes to check your tyres. Ensuring you have the correct tread depths and pressures can significantly help save you money through enhancing the life of your tyres, as well as enabling the vehicle to be more fuel efficient.”
Tyres that are under-inflated wear down faster and use more fuel. The true effects of incorrect tyre pressure were demonstrated last year at a Michelin ‘Fill-up with Air’ roadshow held at one
70 | public sector executive Oct/Nov 14
of our NHS fleet customers – the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Tyre pressures and the condition of employees’ tyres were tested by specialist technicians who found that 20% of the vehicles had at least one tyre ‘dangerously’ or ‘very dangerously’ under- inflated.
With the trust’s 2,000 strong fleet, Michelin estimated that with correct tyre pressure across the board, the organisation could cut fuel costs by £21,750 each year. Of course, we were all astounded at not only how many vehicles posed a risk to the driver and others because a tyre was dangerously under-inflated, but also how much the trust could save by regularly monitoring tyre pressure.
The benefits of proficient tyre management are not only realised in enhanced fuel economy and driver safety – making sure tyres are pumped up properly extends the life of the tyre and can further save you money.
It has been reported that replacing or repairing tyres can make up a significant proportion of a vehicle’s lifetime running costs. If fleet and tyre management support through our partners can help reduce this cost, then we are further saving our fleet customers’ money and reducing their vehicles’ downtime.
With the winter months coming, it’s an ideal time to implement a formal tyre checking procedure. It is recommended that tread is well above the legal minimum of 1.6mm and that
tyre pressure is not only checked against the vehicle manufacturers’ requirements but also against the load and weight of the vehicle.
As a tyre manufacturer and provider, Michelin is also aware of the impact it has on the environment. Encouraging drivers and organisations to take better care of their tyres, means that tyres need to be replaced less often and there are less tyres to dispose of.
Michelin’s Peter Wood said: “Negligence about tyre pressures collectively costs fleets millions of pounds each year, poses a safety risk to drivers, their passengers and other road users, and increases everyone’s carbon footprint. It’s madness when you consider checking tyre pressures is such a quick and simple task.
“Fleets should focus on tyre pressures and also maximise their use of support services provided by companies like Volkswagen Group Leasing and Michelin, as that will give them the best chance of keeping their vehicles on the road.”
Michelin and ATS Euromaster are Volkswagen Group Leasing’s preferred tyre supplier and tyre service provider. The partnership enables Volkswagen Group Leasing fleet customers to access over 340 national tyre fitting centres and benefit from a 24-hour booking service that eliminates waiting times and helps keep fleets on the move.
FOR MORE INFORMATION W:
www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk
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