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Venson encourages fleet managers to consider tyre safety prior to policy changes

The company warned that tyres are one of the most undervalued, yet critical, elements of fleet safety, cost control, and operational efficiency.

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Venson Automotive Solutions has urged businesses to make operational changes now to ensure tyre safety for fleets.

The company warned that tyres are one of the most undervalued, yet critical, elements of fleet safety, cost control, and operational efficiency.

DVSA figures showed that 2.1 million MOT failures were attributed to tyre defects during 2023 to 2024, and 36% of those vehicles had received safety advisories on previous MOTs, yet owners failed to act.

Venson said that 172 tyre-related incidents where people were killed or seriously injured in 2024 demonstrate that failure to manage tyres is putting fleet drivers and other road users at risk.

Despite fleets investing in vehicle technology, electrification, and compliance, Venson explained that tyres are too often overlooked in fleet strategies, and businesses need to play their part in educating drivers about tyre safety.

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Lee O’Neill, operations director at Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “Tyre policies that worked a few years ago may no longer be fit for purpose, particularly as EV adoption increases.

“EVs are placing additional demands on tyres due to increased vehicle weight and instant torque, which can accelerate wear if tyre selection and maintenance are not managed correctly.

“Having the right advice is critical in keeping drivers safe.”

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While the legal minimum tread depth remains 1.6mm, Venson advised that fleets could take a more pragmatic approach to tyre replacement.

For instance, if a vehicle is already in for servicing, replacing tyres from 2mm can be sensible, avoiding downtime on high-mileage vehicles.

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Meanwhile, the importance of weekly checks by drivers cannot be underestimated for leased or purchased vehicles.

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Looking for pressure issues, uneven wear, and visible damage, and checking for correct inflation is particularly important for electric vehicles, which often require higher pressures to account for additional weight, according to Venson.

With an eye on SMR budgets, Venson cautioned against blanket adoption of all-season tyres and widespread use of winter tyres.

When it comes to tyre make and quality, Venson also said that fleets should focus on real-world operating costs, rather than brand labels.

O’Neill added: “Fleet professionals, company car and vans drivers can spend hours looking for, test driving and speccing their next vehicle.

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“However, it is almost a racing certainty that in searching out the very latest technology and available ‘bells and whistles’, the one feature they probably ignore is tyres.

“Yet, tyre management represents a significant opportunity for fleets to improve safety, reduce downtime and better control costs, particularly during the transition to electric vehicles.

“Tyres may not be the most glamorous part of managing a vehicle fleet, but they are one of the most important.

“A proactive tyre strategy can deliver real benefits across safety, efficiency, and total cost of ownership to those fleets willing to invest the time.”

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