Proper tyre maintenance is no fleeting issue

Ensuring that tyres are properly looked after can pay dividends for fleet operators through lower fuel costs, reduced CO2 and increased safety, advises TyreSafe

A major tyre manufacturer and member of TyreSafe previously carried out research which found that driving on tyres that are just ten psi under the recommended pressure can increase fuel consumption by 2.5 per cent, potentially adding tens of thousands of pounds annually to a fleet’s running costs.
    
This is due to under inflated tyres having an increased rolling resistance, which means that the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used, making the vehicle less economical.

An added expense
As well as increasing fuel costs, running under-inflated tyres adds further expense to fleets as the tyres wear out quicker. At lower levels of under-inflation, the tyre’s contact patch with the road surface is reduced to two small areas towards the outer edges of the tread. With the full vehicle load placed on these areas, the tread wears at a much higher rate, drastically reducing the performance of the tyre and forcing replacement much sooner than would otherwise have been needed.
    
By running tyres at just 80 per cent of the recommended pressure, fleets can expect tyre life to be reduced to around 75 percent. If the pressure falls to 60 per cent, operators can expect to achieve just 35 per cent of the potential mileage from the tyre.
    
Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, says: “Although vehicle safety is always paramount, making sure tyres are correctly inflated also has the very attractive benefit of reduced fuel bills, which is especially important in challenging economic times. So the good news is that fleets really can help keep their costs down by making a just few straight forward tyre pressure checks.”

Keep safe
The safety implications with under-inflated tyres include the increased risk of suffering a blow out at high speed due to excessive heat building up in the tyre.
    
But not only is the safety of the fleet’s own drivers put at risk from a tyre failure, other motorists can also be put at risk by any debris left on the carriageway. Furthermore, fitting a replacement tyre on a motorway hard shoulder is an activity fraught with risk and danger.
Over-inflated tyres can also pose a problem, as it causes high wear in the centre of the tread. Keeping tyres inflated to the recommended tyre pressure level for the vehicle ensures even tyre pressure distribution, optimum handling, and consequently a more even wear rate, keeping the tyres in service for longer.
    
Meanwhile, drivers found to be driving on illegal tyres risk incurring a personal fine of £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Business owners also have a responsibility and duty of care obligation to provide their employees with a safe working environment, which includes the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles.
    
Under the Health and Safety Offences Act (2009), UK courts have greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes. The maximum penalty has increased from £5,000 to £20,000.

Yet, the correct pressures for both the laden and unladen state of the vehicle can be found in the vehicle manufacturers’ handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on a plate located on the front door sills.
    
Fleet operators of all vehicles also need to be aware of the different legal requirements for tread depth for tyres so that they do not fall foul of the law, although TyreSafe recommends that drivers, hauliers and fleet operators change their tyres before they reach the legal limit. Tyre tread depth should also be checked at least once a month or at every fleet inspection, using an accurate tread depth gauge.

Avoid penalties
TyreSafe also reminds fleet operators and hauliers that not only are defective tyres costly to replace but they can result in significant penalty payments if vehicles either miss their delivery slots or deliver late. Defective tyres can also mean the vehicle being kept off the road.
    
Delivery performance is critical to commercial fleets in terms of meeting customer targets and fulfilling service level agreements. Many customers penalise haulage companies for poor delivery performance, which can result in lost contracts or in some industries, such as automotive, fines. Checking that tyres are correctly inflated is an essential part of fleet maintenance and helps fleet managers to retain existing customers, ensuring that poor delivery performance is not a deciding factor when it comes to contract renewal.
    
“All businesses, large or small, that operate cars, vans, light commercial vehicles and HGVs should ensure they have robust procedures in place to regularly check the condition of their fleet’s tyres.
    
“So at a time when every penny counts for many fleets, short and long term dividends can be reaped just by paying extra vigilance and sparing a few extra minutes checking tyre pressures every day,” adds Jackson.

Outside the law
Unfortunately though, driving on illegal tyres remains a significant problem in the UK. Figures obtained by TyreSafe through a Freedom of Information request, show that in 2009/10, 2.3 million vehicles failed their annual MOT test where ‘tyres’ was one of the reasons for referral. Insufficient tread depth was a significant part of this, with 1.6 million MOT tests failed because the car’s tyres did not meet the 1.6mm requirements.             

Additionally, the number of drivers successfully prosecuted by courts in England and Wales during 2008 for driving on defective tyres rose by 14 per cent to more than 4,300 convictions.
    
Meanwhile, a recent VOSA effectiveness report showed that the condition of tyres remained the most frequent prohibition defect at spot checks on light goods vehicles across the country.
    
More worryingly, it also exposed that the incidence rate had increased from 20 per cent in 2007/08 and in 2008/09 to just under 26 per cent in 2009/10.
    
Elsewhere, a previous survey by TyreSafe found that an alarming 25 per cent of company car drivers had never checked the depth of their tyre tread and a further 41 per cent had not checked them within the last six months.
    
TyreSafe’s research also showed that tyre pressure is an area of concern when it comes to company car drivers, with only 31 per cent of respondents having checked their pressures within the last month, compared to 50 per cent of private motorists. Woman fell behind men in terms of taking responsibility for checking their pressures. 86 per cent of male respondents claim to check their own pressures compared to just 38 per cent of women.

Ignorance isn't bliss
Other previous research conducted by TyreSafe revealed that one in 20 motorists were unaware that running a car on under-inflated tyres leads to an increase in fuel consumption. It also showed that even those people who were aware that fuel consumption would increase were still not checking their tyre pressures regularly enough.
    
However, ignorance can no longer be an excuse for poor tyre maintenance because TyreSafe has dedicated car, truck and van tyre sections on its website and a brochure about the dangers and risks associated with tyre safety for individuals such as drivers, fleet managers, fleet inspectors and workshop managers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
To receive a copy of the brochure, visit www.tyresafe.org and complete the contact us form.

Top tips for checking tyre pressures correctly:
•    Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month and before a long journey.
•    Pressure should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate by the driver’s door sill or inside the fuel filler cap.
•    If you are carrying extra passengers or a full load, pressures should be adjusted in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
•    Pressures should be checked when the tyres are cold (i.e. when you have travelled less than two miles).
•    Use an accurate and reliable pressure gauge
•    Check the pressure in all four tyres and don’t forget to check the spare.
•    When checking pressures give the rest of the tyre a visual inspection. Remove and stones and other objects embedded in the tread. If the tyre has any lumps, bulges or cuts it should be inspected immediately by a professional. Look for any signs of irregular wear on the tread.
•    If in any doubt about your tyre pressure or condition, take your vehicle to your nearest approved fitting centre.

ABOUT TYRESAFE
TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the dangers of defective and worn tyres.

In 2009, TyreSafe was awarded with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in recognition of its achievements in raising awareness about the dangers associated with driving on defective and worn tyres.

TyreSafe supports the government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign which promotes Smarter Driving tips to help cut CO2 emissions from driving.    

TyreSafe is a signatory to the European Road Safety Charter which was launched in 2004 with the aim of halving the number of deaths on European roads.