ADDRESSING a small range of key issues can ensure fleet tyres last as long as possible, while replacement cycles ensure tyres are safe to avoid excess wear leading to blow-outs.

The steps are relatively simple on paper, but introducing them will take teamwork between the fleet department and the fleet drivers, with the common understanding that it improves safety and reduces costs.

Among the areas to focus on for safety are ensuring drivers understand the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, that air pressures are correct and that wheel nuts are checked regularly.

For longer-lasting tyres, fleets drivers need to adopt a smoother driving style, check the tracking on their vehicles, avoid carrying unnecessary loads and avoid rapid acceleration and braking. Here is an at-a-glance guide:

Tyre safety checklist

  • Do not use tyres with a tread depth of less than 1.6mm (3.0mm if travelling on European roads). Apart from being illegal, tyres with low levels of tread will slide more easily, suffer from extended braking distances and be more susceptible to rupturing. In wet conditions, the vehicle will aquaplane, making braking and handling almost impossible.

  • Make sure air pressures are correct. Low air pressure generates heat, which can result in the rubber and cord separating, which in turn leads to the cord becoming cut and puncturing the tyre.
    Low pressure also results in excessive wear on the edge of the tyre, shortening its life. Excessive pressure, meanwhile, results in unpredictable handling, in addition to which, if the tyre suffers an impact, it is easily ruptured and cut. If drivers brake hard, the tyre may skid, which reduces tyre life as the centre of the tread becomes worn. Check tyre inflation pressures at least twice a month. Always check pressures when tyres are cool and maintain the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

  • Do not drive with damaged tyres. If tyres are used with a stone or nail stuck in the tread groove, the tyre can become punctured or ruptured. Drivers should change the tyre immediately on discovering any damage to avoid further wear on the carcass.

  • Treat abnormal tyre wear immediately. To assure normal wear drivers should check air pressures and alignment and rotate the tyres regularly. In addition motorists should avoid bad driving habits such as sudden acceleration, braking and cornering.

  • Check the spare tyre. Make sure your drivers regularly check the spare tyre's air pressure, existence/non existence of damage and the depth of remaining groove regularly.

  • Never mount radial tyres on the same axle as non-radial tyres or radial tyres on the front axle when non-radial tyres are mounted on the rear axle. These conditions are likely to cause vehicle instability, which can result in a sudden loss of control and serious injury.

  • Check regularly that wheel nuts are securely tightened.

  • Never overload tyres. The maximum load and inflation pressure of the tyres are moulded into the sidewall. Also, remember the tyre is capable of carrying the maximum load only if it is inflated to its maximum air pressure.

  • Do not use detergents or chemicals containing petroleum products for cleaning or polishing tyres.

  • In the event of a puncture, stop as soon as possible and change the tyre. As well as the obvious safety considerations, continuing to drive on an under-inflated tyre can cause structural deterioration. Punctured tyres must always be removed from the wheel to check for secondary damage.
    Source Mangoletsi

    Five ways to decrease tyre wear

    1. Adopt a smooth driving style through bends. Driving round bends wears the tyre much more quickly than travelling on a straight road. However, you can minimise the effects by adopting a smooth driving style, changing direction without jerkiness and maintaining an even speed.

    2. Accelerate and decelerate smoothly. Rapid acceleration and heavy braking cause hugely increased wear as tyres struggle to maintain grip. Again, driving smoothly is the key to prolonging tyre life.

    3. Are your tyre pressures correct? Regularly checking that tyres are correctly inflated is an essential piece of tyre maintenance. Tyres operating at the right pressure provide better grip, giving handling and braking benefits, and also wear more slowly.

    4. Don't overload your vehicle. If you operate a vehicle above the load rating for which it was designed, you are causing strain on all kinds of components, including the tyres. Increased wear is inevitable.

    5. Is your tread wear even? Look at the way in which your tyres are wearing. If the tread on one side is shallower than the other, the chances are that there is a mechanical problem on the vehicle that is causing uneven tread wear. Further advice should be sought from a qualified source.

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