In a research* undertaken by Goodyear Tyres, it was found that only 71% of fleet managers feel tyres are a 'very important' area of investment as compared to fuel (81%) and repairs and maintenance (86%).
The research, which was conducted as a part of a wider report into the transport industry**, also found that only a quarter (25%) of the participants had a single brand supply deal with a tyre manufacturer. Surprisingly, only one in five of these 25% were motivated by lower total cost, and fewer still by financial predictability. The majority though (83%) were were motivated by the improved reliability in operation that comes with a single brand supply deal; a crucial element to any fleet.
David Howe, Commercial Sales Manager at Goodyear noted that the finding was very interesting as few fleet managers have a single brand supply deal, as such a deal is often accompanied by access to a commercial support network, which will help to perform maintenance. Goodyear's own network, he said, TruckForce - specialises in the complete lifecycle management of commercial truck tyres, including preventive maintenance, replacement, regrooving, and retreading. He added that the network spans across the whole of the UK, with 13 hubs in total, which are individually responsible for different regions.
Correct tyre maintenance is a huge factor when it comes to efficient operation for fleets. Surprisingly though, the research found that only one-in-three (33%) fleet managers - or those responsible for keeping commercial vehicle fleets compliant - check their tyre pressures on a daily basis. However, tread depth checks on the other hand were found to be much more common, with over half of respondents (55%) checking their tread depth daily.
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David Howe further said, "Our TruckForce technicians conduct full tyre checks for customers on a quarterly basis, but we would always recommend that drivers visually check their tyre pressures at the start of each shift. This is because, if too high or low, incorrect pressures can result in rapid and irregular wear, or even blowouts, risking a significant amount of downtime and possible accidents. Running tyres at the correct pressure will lead to better wear across the tyre and even lower fuel consumption, due to better rolling resistance and handling."
“The use of technology such as Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) can also help to prolong the tyre's lifespan. Our own TPMS uses an in-tyre sensor to gather data and Goodyear's unique G-Predict technology alerts the fleet manager to any tyre-related hazards via a mobile app. This predictive algorithm technology means managers can proactively take action to rectify any problems and prevent incidents from happening, avoiding prolonged downtime.
"TruckForce is part of Goodyear Total Mobility, an end-to-end fleet offering that includes support from ServiceLine24h roadside assistance and FleetOnlineSolutions - Goodyear's Internet-based fleet management system. This offering can provide vital assistance to fleets, as it comes with premium service, helps to keep drivers safe, fleets on the move and total cost of ownership down.
"To put it simply, the research indicates that this kind of maintenance isn't always at the top of most fleet managers' list of priorities. But the cost savings and efficiency improvements that it can bring to the table mean that the higher up the agenda it is, the more fleets will benefit."
* Goodyear research using data from the Commercial Motor and Motor Transport Industry Research 2019
** Commercial Motor and Motor Transport Industry Research 2019
Image credits: ArDOT
