back to basics


Safe tyre management and your business


Tyres are essential but often overlooked components of your van – yet they are the only parts that actually touch the ground. Many see them as a distress purchase, to be bought only when you absolutely have to and then forgotten about until something goes wrong. However, by paying them a little more attention, you can cut costs and, crucially, keep you and your business on the road. These 10 top tips – contributed by ATS Euromaster – show how putting in place a few small measures can make a big difference.


1. UNDER PRESSURE If you want your tyres to become more cost-effective immediately, get them at the right pressure for the type of driving your vans are doing. A tyre under-inflated by just 10-20% uses 1.25% more fuel on long journeys. That doesn’t sound like much on its own, but it really adds up – particularly if you’re running a fleet. Plus, underinflated tyres take more damage from the road and wear out more quickly, meaning you’d have to spend money on replacements more often. Regular checks, ideally monthly, can


help keep tyres at the optimum pressure to be safe, reliable and fuel efficient.


2. WHAT’S YOUR POLICY? Setting out a formal tyre policy for your van fleet is as important as your vehicle purchasing policy. Doing so means you can avoid paying too much for tyres, and you may also get a better price during negotiations if you decide to standardise with one brand. Choosing a policy that is right for


you, that is managed by a professional service provider and reviewed regularly can save a fortune in running costs, plus expert tyre maintenance will help ensure the maximum life from every one of your vans’ tyres.


3. ASK FOR HELP If a van in your fleet suffers a roadside tyre failure, it’s not making you money, or helping your customers. Expert support will mean you can get back on the road quickly and safely. Work with a tyre service provider that you trust – one that operates 24/7 and can arrive at the scene quickly, with the precise tyre you require.


4. DRIVER PRACTICE Even the most highly skilled and experienced driver has areas they can improve on. Setting a standard of best driving practice for your vehicles, which you take active steps to ensure your drivers stick to, can help reduce fuel consumption, tyre wear and accidents dramatically. However, mistakes will always happen. Bear in mind seemingly innocuous incidents such as hitting the kerb or going too fast over a pothole can cause problems with a van’s wheel alignment, leading to further problems.


20 VanUser August 2017


5. ARE YOU MOVING FORWARD? A van’s wheels can become poorly aligned for any number of reasons, even simply through usage over time. When this happens, it impacts on handling, increases fuel consumption and significantly increases tyre wear. The giveaways of badly aligned tyres


are an uneven tread wear, vibration through the steering wheel, or a pull to the left or right when driving. Depending on how badly out of alignment the wheels are, this can either be ‘active’ where the driver will have to wrestle to keep the van straight, or ‘passive’ where it naturally drifts over time. As soon as any of these signs are


noticed, get your van’s wheels assessed and, if necessary, realigned by an expert.


6. CHANGE WITH THE SEASONS As winter rolls around, we change our dress accordingly, but often don’t think how our vehicles might also need to adapt. Flip flops won’t get you far on an icy pavement, and neither will standard ‘summer’ tyres if your vans are routinely working in temperatures below 7°C. If your fleet does a lot of winter


driving, consider investing in a set of cold weather tyres to run from October to March. Cold weather tyres are compiled


of different rubber compounds which mean the tyre stays softer in colder temperatures. They also have a special tread pattern to provide better grip, improved handling and reduced braking distances in wintry conditions. Car-


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