Fleet tyre maintenance worth its weight in rubber

Ineffective management and maintenance of fleet tyres can affect the performance of a company’s fleet and give rise to unnecessary and costly operational expenditure, which severely impacts on an organisation’s bottom line, warns the South African Tyre Manufacturer’s Conference (SATMC).

As the focus of all businesses shift to budgeting and improving on past performance with the dawning of the new financial year, the SATMC urges all fleet managers to plan and budget for routine tyre checks, maintenance and timely replacement of tyres to assist them with containing cost.

“A fleet that is fit for purpose and operates cost-effectively and efficiently is worth its weight in rubber,” says Dr Etienne Human, CEO and Director of the SATMC. “Having a comprehensive budget for fleet management in place can help curb any unexpected price escalations that may affect your business or its profitability.”

Human shares tips for keeping costs to a minimum during all stages of the fleet tyre lifecycle, including procurement, maintenance, running and disposal, that can help fleet managers save time and money during the 2015 financial year.

PROCUREMENT

When procuring tyres for fleets, the speeds, distances, loads, poor road surfaces, heat, likelihood of scuffing against pavements and objects on the roads and in quarries, all need to be taken into consideration.

“Opting for the cheapest tyres does not automatically translate into a cost saving,” says Human. “Fleet managers need to weigh the price in relation to the quality of the tyre to ensure that they procure tyres that will result in the lowest cost per km.”

Tyres supplied by the South African tyre manufacturers, including Bridgestone, Continental, Sumitomo and Goodyear, are designed and manufactured for the harsh South African conditions. “It is not uncommon to hear that they last twice as long as some imported tyres, which could ultimately result in a huge cost saving,” says Human.

MAINTENANCE

“Regular tyre inspections and early detection of any damage to tyres are vital to prevent premature tyre failure and keeping maintenance costs to a minimum,” says Human.

Fleet managers and drivers have a duty to maintain their vehicles to the highest standards, which means checking all levels regularly, especially tyre pressures, tread depth and checking for damage to tyres. “Under-inflated tyres is not only dangerous, but also contributes to a significant cost increment for organisations due to prematurely worn tyres and resulting road accidents,” warns Human.

Any damage on tyres could cause tyre failure, including punctures, smooth tyre tread, cuts and bulges. “Although some damage to tyres can be fixed, no repairs can be made to the sidewall of passenger and light commercial vehicle type tyre and not all repairs are permanent,” Human explains. “Using a quick spaghetti type repair to seal a penetrated tyre is temporary and should be replaced with a proper mushroom type repair, where the tyre is removed, inspected and properly repaired as soon as possible.”

RUNNING

“Educating drivers to take better care of their vehicles will further reduce wear and tear on tyres and brakes, in turn reducing maintenance and repair costs, as well as improving fuel consumption, amounting to a massive cost saving,” says Human. “Driver training should be regarded as part of an ongoing management process, to ensure optimum running.”

Informed and gentle drivers will further result in reduced vehicle and driver downtime, which result in both hard savings including reduced repair costs and soft savings, by keeping the vehicle and the driver on the road safely.

DISPOSAL

“Delaying replacing aged tyres or worn tyres with a below regulatory tread depth is likely to result in additional expenditures, due to the knock-on effect of ultimate tyre failure,” says Human. “Accidents or breakdowns next to the road due to unroadworthy tyres will result in high costs, which could easily be avoided.”

To reduce the risk of tyre failure and its effect on business cost and performance, all tyres need to be replaced well before they reach the tread wear indicator or regulatory minimum depth of 1mm and regardless of how much tread is left, it is recommended that tyres be replaced at around the age of 5 to 7 years.

For more information about the SATMC, contact info@rubbersa.com.

Also view:

Tyre Safety and Road Safety

Fleet tyre maintenance worth its weight in rubber

How safe are your car’s tyres? MiWay offers a checklist for maintenance tips

Keeping safe on the road is not only about being an alert and cautious driver, it is also about making sure that your car is always in tip-top condition. An essential part of that is ensuring that your tyres are in a roadworthy condition – after all, the tyres are the point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Worn tyres reduce the performance of your car and low tread depths decrease the effectiveness of braking, steering, and even accelerating – all of which are important in staying safe on the road. Moreover, in wet weather, tread depth plays a crucial role in dispersing water to maintain a good grip.

Checklist for tyres

Tyres should be inspected on a regular basis. Here are some of the most important things to look out for:

• Check for punctures, penetrations, cuts and bulges.

• Cuts in the tyre could allow moisture to reach the casing plies. This is harmful for both textile and steel casings and will affect safety and tyre life.


• Uneven tyre wear is a sign that wheel alignment needs attention.


• Inner and outer edge wear. If both inner and outer edges are worn, it can suggest that the tyres have been run at a pressure which is too low at normal speeds.


• Irregular bald spot, also known as cupping – is usually caused by worn shock absorbers, a worn suspension, or even loose wheel bearings.


• Missing valve caps should be replaced, since they are there to prevent dirt from clogging the valves, which could cause loss in air pressure.


• Tighten wheel studs/nuts to the correct torque setting when mounting new tyres – also check for loose or missing wheel nuts.


• Check tread depth on all tyres and replace well before they reach the regulatory minimum depth of 1.00 mm.

Tyre pressure

Over or under inflation reduces the contact between the tyre and the road and also shortens the lifespan of your tyres. Make sure tyres are always inflated to the right pressure for your car. If you are not sure, check the Owner’s Manual or the display on the driver’s door side panel.

Don’t forget to also check that your spare wheel is in good shape, too, including a properly inflated tyre and that you have the correct tools to replace it. You never know when you might need it!

Maintaining your car’s tyres

• Make sure the size and speed/loading ratings of your tyres conform to the specifications in the Owner’s Manual.


• Check tyres and rims for any accidental damage after impacting with potholes/curb stones or other obstacles in the road.


• Be sure to have your tyres, brakes, shock absorbers and rims checked when servicing the car.


• Car wheel alignment should be tested at regular intervals to obtain even tread wear and maximise lifespan of tyres.

Safety tip: If a tyre bursts, do not apply the brakes, rather use the gears to slow down the car. A sudden change in direction or braking on a flat tyre can result in loss of control. Rather risk losing one wheel than damaging more of your car!

Spare wheel safety

Your spare wheel is only designed to be a temporary solution and should never be a permanent replacement for regular wheels.

Remember, the 4 tyres on your car are some of the most important components on the vehicle and the only point of contact between you and the road. Always refer to the owner’s manual for all tyre pressure specifications and other related information. If you suspect any damage to the tyres – consult a tyre expert!

For more information on car insurance, visit www.miway.co.za

[By Rory Judd, MiWay head of online marketing]

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970)

 Road Safety and Tyre Safety

How safe are your car’s tyres? MiWay offers a checklist for maintenance tips

Soaring vehicle maintenance costs nearing new vehicle instalment levels

As a general guide costs of running a vehicle should not exceed 30 percent of gross monthly income

With vehicle owners already feeling the pinch of higher expenses due to the rising cost of fuel, coupled with interest rate hikes, the focus should now be on managing less obvious maintenance costs that slowly add up and eat away on monthly income.

Glenn Stead, Head of Products for Vehicle and Asset Finance at Standard Bank, says consumers should look at the overall maintenance costs when considering buying a new vehicle – not just the monthly instalment repayments. Consumers need to be realistic about what they can afford – and bear in mind that as vehicles depreciate in value – their running costs appreciate.

“As a guideline, costs of maintaining and running a vehicle should not exceed 30 percent of gross monthly income,” advises Mr Stead.

Fuel costs, which often vary depending on the length of the consumer’s daily commute, are one of the obvious costs. But there are the additional, less obvious costs that slowly add up, such as monthly insurance premiums, regular wear and tear on the vehicle, and e-toll fees etc.

“Added together, these running costs could end up being double the monthly instalment value, or even equal the value of monthly repayments for a new vehicle in a higher price range,” warns Mr Stead.

“Gone are the days when vehicle owners only had to worry about the petrol price, and increasing instalments due to interest rates going up. Escalating maintenance costs are also taking their toll on the costs associated with owning a vehicle,” says Mr Stead.

Mr Stead advises vehicle owners to consider these tips to better manage costs associated with maintaining and running their vehicles:

• Fixed rate vehicle financing option – although marginally higher than the variable rate, by utilising this option vehicle owners can be assured that they will not be affected by further interest rate hikes. It may be better for the first time buyer to use this option: it will be a bit more expensive, but at least it gives them peace of mind.

• Reward programmes – reward programmes offer an opportunity for vehicle owners to save on their monthly running costs. By filling up at select filling stations, account holders can get back as much as R1 for every litre. For example, Standard Bank’s UCount Rewards programme which started in 2012 has paid back R77 million in redemption point to customers through its UCount Rewards fuel reimbursement option.


•  Reduce bills without compromising insurance - faced with the increased costs of maintaining their vehicles; owners should not be tempted to compromise on their insurance options – by either switching to an option with lower premiums, or cancelling their vehicle insurance completely. 

Because many vehicle owners do not read the ‘fine print’ in their policies, which may contain exclusions such as high excess amounts, this can disadvantage them in the case of damage or loss of the vehicle.

Prospective vehicle owners should carefully examine the terms of their insurance contracts, to be clear on what is covered, and what isn’t – and whether they will need supplementary ‘top-up’ insurance.

• Understand the different types of vehicle financing products – it is important for vehicle buyers to understand the different types of vehicle financing options, and the financial implications of each: including the implications of residual payments at the end of the contract’s term. Banks offer a range of options and solutions to assist customers facing financial pressure. This includes structuring a grace period for repayments.

 While the above list is by no means conclusive, these tips can go a long way to help vehicle owners to manage the escalating costs associated with running and maintaining their vehicles.

“Vehicle owners should not wait until things worsen, the minute they realise they are in dire straits they should talk to their financial advisor to identify a solution to help them through the difficulty,” says Mr Stead.

Also view:

Buying a vehicle, Vehicle Finance and Car Insurance

Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Road Safety

Soaring vehicle maintenance costs nearing new vehicle instalment levels

Soaring vehicle maintenance costs nearing new vehicle instalment levels

As a general guide costs of running a vehicle should not exceed 30 percent of gross monthly income

With vehicle owners already feeling the pinch of higher expenses due to the rising cost of fuel, coupled with interest rate hikes, the focus should now be on managing less obvious maintenance costs that slowly add up and eat away on monthly income.

Glenn Stead, Head of Products for Vehicle and Asset Finance at Standard Bank, says consumers should look at the overall maintenance costs when considering buying a new vehicle – not just the monthly instalment repayments. Consumers need to be realistic about what they can afford – and bear in mind that as vehicles depreciate in value – their running costs appreciate.

“As a guideline, costs of maintaining and running a vehicle should not exceed 30 percent of gross monthly income,” advises Mr Stead.

Fuel costs, which often vary depending on the length of the consumer’s daily commute, are one of the obvious costs. But there are the additional, less obvious costs that slowly add up, such as monthly insurance premiums, regular wear and tear on the vehicle, and e-toll fees etc.

“Added together, these running costs could end up being double the monthly instalment value, or even equal the value of monthly repayments for a new vehicle in a higher price range,” warns Mr Stead.

“Gone are the days when vehicle owners only had to worry about the petrol price, and increasing instalments due to interest rates going up. Escalating maintenance costs are also taking their toll on the costs associated with owning a vehicle,” says Mr Stead.

Mr Stead advises vehicle owners to consider these tips to better manage costs associated with maintaining and running their vehicles:

• Fixed rate vehicle financing option – although marginally higher than the variable rate, by utilising this option vehicle owners can be assured that they will not be affected by further interest rate hikes. It may be better for the first time buyer to use this option: it will be a bit more expensive, but at least it gives them peace of mind.

• Reward programmes – reward programmes offer an opportunity for vehicle owners to save on their monthly running costs. By filling up at select filling stations, account holders can get back as much as R1 for every litre. For example, Standard Bank’s UCount Rewards programme which started in 2012 has paid back R77 million in redemption point to customers through its UCount Rewards fuel reimbursement option.


•  Reduce bills without compromising insurance - faced with the increased costs of maintaining their vehicles; owners should not be tempted to compromise on their insurance options – by either switching to an option with lower premiums, or cancelling their vehicle insurance completely. 

Because many vehicle owners do not read the ‘fine print’ in their policies, which may contain exclusions such as high excess amounts, this can disadvantage them in the case of damage or loss of the vehicle.

Prospective vehicle owners should carefully examine the terms of their insurance contracts, to be clear on what is covered, and what isn’t – and whether they will need supplementary ‘top-up’ insurance.

• Understand the different types of vehicle financing products – it is important for vehicle buyers to understand the different types of vehicle financing options, and the financial implications of each: including the implications of residual payments at the end of the contract’s term. Banks offer a range of options and solutions to assist customers facing financial pressure. This includes structuring a grace period for repayments.

 While the above list is by no means conclusive, these tips can go a long way to help vehicle owners to manage the escalating costs associated with running and maintaining their vehicles.

“Vehicle owners should not wait until things worsen, the minute they realise they are in dire straits they should talk to their financial advisor to identify a solution to help them through the difficulty,” says Mr Stead.

Also view:

Buying a vehicle, Vehicle Finance and Car Insurance

Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Road Safety

Soaring vehicle maintenance costs nearing new vehicle instalment levels