For business owners operating vehicles in North Wales and border England, tyre management is a significant operational and safety issue. Unplanned tyre failures cost businesses money through vehicle downtime, delayed deliveries, emergency call-out costs and potential safety incidents. A proactive approach to fleet tyre management eliminates most of these problems.
Why Fleet Tyre Management Matters
Tyres represent a substantial proportion of total vehicle running costs for most fleets. But the indirect costs of poor tyre management — vehicle downtime, driver time, emergency recovery, failed deliveries — often dwarf the direct tyre costs themselves.
A single unplanned tyre failure on a delivery vehicle can easily cost £200-500 in direct and indirect costs. A proactive inspection programme catching that tyre before failure might cost £30.
Establish a Regular Inspection Programme
The foundation of effective fleet tyre management is regular inspection. At minimum:
- Driver checks — visual inspection for obvious damage, tread depth check, pressure check — ideally weekly
- Professional inspections — accurate tread depth measurement, sidewall inspection, valve condition check — monthly
- Full audit — comprehensive tyre condition report for each vehicle — quarterly
Mobi Tyre provides scheduled inspection visits to fleet depots and yards across North Wales and border England, with written reports for each vehicle.
Maintain Correct Tyre Pressures
Under-inflation is the single biggest cause of premature tyre failure in commercial fleets. Running tyres at just 10% below recommended pressure increases wear rate by up to 15% and increases fuel consumption by up to 3%.
For a fleet of 10 vans each covering 25,000 miles per year, that fuel consumption increase alone could represent £1,500-2,000 per year in additional fuel costs — on top of the cost of replacing tyres sooner.
All commercial vehicle tyre pressures should be checked weekly, and always before heavy load operations.
Address Alignment Issues Promptly
Incorrect wheel alignment is expensive for fleet operators. A van running with toe misalignment of just 3mm can scrub off 7mm of tyre tread per 1,000 miles. On a vehicle covering 25,000 miles annually, that misalignment could reduce tyre life by more than half.
Any fleet vehicle showing uneven tyre wear should have alignment checked and corrected before new tyres are fitted.
Use the Right Tyres for the Job
Commercial vehicle tyres must meet minimum load index and speed ratings as specified by the manufacturer. Fitting passenger car tyres on a van — even if the size appears correct — is both dangerous and illegal. All tyres fitted by Mobi Tyre to commercial vehicles meet the correct load and speed ratings.
Keep Records
Maintain a tyre record for each vehicle including the date each tyre was fitted, tread depth readings at inspection dates, any repairs carried out and projected replacement dates. This data helps with accurate budgeting and quickly identifies vehicles with abnormally rapid tyre wear.
Mobile Fleet Tyre Services from Mobi Tyre
Mobi Tyre provides comprehensive mobile fleet tyre management across North Wales and border England, including scheduled inspection visits, emergency breakdown response and on-site tyre fitting and replacement. To discuss your fleet requirements, call 07768 491888 or email [email protected].
