One in three vans that are regularly checked by the ATS Euromaster Mastercare inspection service require remedial actions.
The tyre and maintenance provider says that pressure on fleets for greater 24/7 run time is creating additional tyre wear.
ATS Euromaster says it inspects 5,800 vehicles each month- including fleets such as dotcom grocer Tesco – and that on average 32% of vans need actionable maintenance.
Gordon Robertson, Mobile Area Operations Manager – North, ATS Euromaster, said: “It could be general wear, a puncture, or particularly with dotcom vans damage to the tyre wall. But what we will always try and do is prolong the life of the tyre where possible. For example, this might involve spinning the tyres – where we switch the outside of the tyre wall to the inside – which is becoming common practice as many of these vans spend their time bouncing up and down kerbs while making their home deliveries.”
Robertson adeds that, with the average cost of a typical 235/65 size replacement tyre being £200, techniques such as turning tyres on the rim are significant cost savers for fleets.
While Mastercare was originally focused on commercial vehicles, Robertson says that increasingly ATS Euromaster is seeing more vans come onto the tyre maintenance programme.
With the chip crisis and lack of replacement vehicles extending current vehicle life beyond originally planned SMR parameters, increased vehicle maintenance is required.
“Mastercare provides duty of care for the customer – while fleets also benefit from getting the maximum life out of tyres,” adds Robertson. “It’s all about managing tyre life and ensuring vehicle downtime is minimised.”
ATS Euromaster said its Mastercare service provides fleet managers with a global view of their fleet’s tyre condition status with recommended remedial work, vehicles that require an inspection and an historical overview of actioned items.
Robertson added: “As the age of the fleet has grown with the chip crisis, the need for inspection is high on the agenda for fleet managers.”
