tyre, as one with only half of its life left represents dubious value. For example, a 4mm tread depth is good for 10,000 miles maximum, according to the RAC. In contrast, fleets with Michelin’s Agilis 3 LCV tyre have mileages of up to 80,000 miles before wearing down to a similar level, according to Martin Thompson, Michelin’s AGB brand manager, UK and Ireland.


Top 10 Tyre Tips While CDVs normally happily run on conventional tyres, larger vans coping with heavier loads use dedicated commercial tyres, signified by the letter C on the sidewall or XL (Extra Load) and RF (Reinforced) to cope with loads up to or exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Fitting


Kwik-Fit


Dan Joyce, fleet director at Kwik Fit, says: “Recent fleet data shows that while company cars are covering fewer miles over their contract term than in previous years, vans are being driven a lot further. At Kwik Fit, we have been supporting fleets for over 35 years .Across our national network of 700 centres, we have sites focused on holding large stocks of the most common LCV tyres, and our latest developments allow van drivers to see live appointment and stock availability. Also, Kwik Fit’s mobile network enables us to come to them, either on site or at home at times when their van is not being used.”


normal passenger car tyres (even if you only carry light loads) may infringe your insurance cover if you’re involved in an accident. Tyres degenerate, which is why they have a shelf life of around six years before replacement is recommended. You can ascertain a tyre’s age by looking on the sidewall. Revised markings were used after 2000, with four-digit numbers showing the month followed by year. For example ‘0713’ means month seven,July, 2013. Don’t just rip off the tyre label as many do, as it displays (via independent tests) information like wet weather performance, noise, fuel savings and so on to help you make the best decision.


Try not to mix and match tyres and at least not on the same axle, as individual makes have different compounds and can vary in rolling radius. This could cause havoc not only with the handling and road-holding, but also the performance and durability of limited slip differentials and all AWD transmissions. Tyre rotation to even out wear rates is bad practice as each tyre adapts to its particular axle. Swapping around will affect the steering and handling. A dying art, but regular inspections are vital as condition can also be a barometer for various problems. Excessive wear in the centre shows over-inflation, while conversely too much on the edges signals under- inflation, and irregular wear on one side


Part-worn tyres can represent a false economy


points towards steering geometry and suspension issues. Also look for sidewall cracking, bulges and kerbing damage. Although UK law demands a tread depth of no less than 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre (throughout its circumference), many regard 2mm as a more sensible limit as wet weather performance reduces drastically once past 3mm. According to Kwik-Fit, defective tyres account for at least 10% of all MOT failures. Commercial vehicles are well known for mounting kerbs and such like, which shortens tyre life and impairs handling. Consider having a professional all wheel alignment check annually as part of a tyre management plan. In the UK, we mostly rely on summer


Kwik Fit’s mobile vans are fully equipped to carry out on site tyre fitting


tyres. The short-lived seasonal switch from summer to winter tyres has largely petered out, now accounting for less than 1% of the tyre market. It’s quickly being superseded by all-season tyres (identified by a triple mountain alpine symbol) which, while not so good in severe winter conditions, provides a better all year-round compromise. With so many brands on the market, how can motorists cut through the confusion and purchase the best tyre for their needs and budget? One solution is WhatTyre, a unique tyre comparison engine that educates consumers at the pre-sale research stage. This database of over 300,000 tyres compares tyre label data with thousands of third-party magazine tyre tests as well as OE and ESG details to help customers choose a tyre based on what it does, not just what it costs.


@whatvan September 2023 WhatVan? 19


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