Anyone who owns a car, but especially those responsible for a fleet, is waiting with bated breath for a revolution in tyre technology that will see tyres lasting ten times as long as they do now. Until that glorious day arrives, however, there are a number of key steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your treads. It's about how you tread.
Every fleet manager knows that tyres are one of the biggest, and most unpredictable, costs on the fleet budget. Effectively extending tyre life will lead to reduced costs, but it needs to be done in a safe manner and tyres should never be pushed to within an inch of their life. It goes without saying that this can lead to disaster.
So what can you do?
- The first and most important step to extending the life of your tyres is basic tyre maintenance. Ideally, tyre pressure should be checked before every trip. And with heavy loads and longer trips, tyre pressure should be checked at every stop if possible. Regular checks will show up any concerns, such as slow leaks, and you’ll be able to fix it before it turns into a more serious problem such as a blowout.
Optimal tyre pressure also reduces fuel consumption and if maintained correctly you will see impressive fuel savings in the long run. According to Willie Venter, Fleet Consulting Manager at EQSTRA Fleet Management, “If tyres are under-inflated it increases the rolling resistance, which in turn leads to higher fuel consumption. On a medium sized car, tyres that are under-inflated by 1 bar can increase the fuel consumption by up to six percent. That’s a big knock for any fleet budget.”
Mohammed Moosa, National Fleet Manager, adds: “You have a recommended and preferred tyre pressure. It is always best to use a higher tyre pressure to improve fuel economy.”
- Rotating tyres is an effective way to keep tyre wear as even as possible. Tyre rotation is only possible on vehicles that have the same tyre size all round, however, so it may not be possible for fleets running larger transport trucks.
- Regularly checking wheel alignment will also help extend tyre life. Most vehicles have a recommended mileage at which wheel alignment should be checked, but if you’re running a fleet it’s good habit to check this more often. South African roads are famously tough on tyres and wheel alignment, and many fleet managers find that wheel alignment needs to be adjusted after almost every extended trip.
Extending tyre life is possible, but it requires diligent checks. It’s one of those tasks that requires regular visual confirmation that required maintenance has been done. This is where an experienced fleet management partner can make a huge difference as they’ll be able to help you put the necessary measures in place to extend tyre life and drastically reduce related costs.
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