ATS Euromaster reports that 12% of the vans and cars it sees under its fleet Mastercare programme run on below-pressure tyres.
The results, says the national tyre and maintenance provider, will increase running costs by 3-10% depending on the degree of underinflation.
‘That’s a significant loss on fuel,’ says Gordon Robertson, mobile area operations manager – North, ATS Euromaster. ‘It can also change the driving quality of a vehicle which puts extra driving demands on the driver.’
Robertson points out that with fuel costing an average of 186p per litre for diesel, a fleet losing 10% across a 100-van fleet could cost £1300 a month.*
‘Even if 75% of the fleet runs on correctly inflated tyres, the 25% still represents a worthwhile saving. Can fleets be ignoring such basic driver checks?’
Rapid deflation
According to the TyreSafe organisation, underinflated tyres reduce the tyre patch in contact with the road. They are more likely to suffer from rapid deflation while also suffering unnecessary wear on the outside circumference of the tyre.
The organisation adds that the benefits of a properly inflated tyre include more extended life and reduced running costs, which are high at a time when fleet SMR budgets are under pressure.
ATS Euromaster inspects 5800 vehicles each month- including dotcom grocery fleets such as Tesco – and that, on average, 32% of vans need actionable maintenance.
“Mastercare is about managing tyre life and minimising vehicle downtime,” adds Robertson. ‘Fleets fulfil their duty of care with regular maintenance and inspection, which means we can offer advice on cost-saving measures to prolong tyre life.’
The ATS Euromaster Mastercare service has been designed for major fleets, covering vans and cars.
It provides comprehensive tyre checks, such as depth checks and recording of tyre wear and damage to a fleet’s tyres, to provide a health check overview. It allows fleets to take proactive preventative actions, supporting vehicle uptime and reducing fleet costs.
