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Rainfall, leaves lying on the roads, cool and sometimes even frosty evenings. These are just some of the features of the autumn rain that affect the vehicle's grip. The lack of proper tyres or their poor quality, in the event of sudden braking or loss of control due to skidding, will certainly increase the police databases. In such weather conditions, the right tyres are worth their weight in gold, because literally every meter counts during sudden braking.
– According to IBRM Samar data, delivery vehicles account for approximately 10% of all vehicles on Polish roads. Due to the rapid increase in the popularity of online shopping, the fleet of vehicles for couriers also contributes to these increases every year. Tyres adjusted to the season – apart from the safety of the driver and other vehicles – also ensure the reliability of deliveries and avoiding additional expenses or wasted time on post-accident repairs. That is why it is so important that the owners of delivery vehicle fleets pay special attention to the quality and adaptation of tyres to the season – comments Piotr Sarnecki, General Director of the Polish Tyre Industry Association (PTIA).
The soft compound means better grip!
Winter tyres are made of a different rubber mixture – incl. containing an admixture of silica, resins and polymers – which prevent the tyre from hardening at temperatures lower than 7-10 degrees Celsius. This translates into better grip and shorter braking distance, regardless of weather conditions. In addition, tyre manufacturers use more aggressive patterns and treads with sipes that ensure traction also on snowy roads. It is also worth emphasizing that modern, high-quality winter tyres will ensure safe driving also on slightly warmer days. Thanks to this, they will prove themselves in the transition period, when the temperature during the day exceeds 10 ° C, and in the evening it even drops to zero.
Can all-season tyres be a solution for couriers? Here, Piotr Sarnecki clearly indicates how to approach it – All-season tyres with winter approval could be a good choice for those cars that drive around cities or neighbouring towns, if not for the economy. Some courier companies have already tested that with such high annual mileage, all-season tyres simply do not pay off. In summer they wear out much faster than typical summer ones. So for delivery vans that make over 15,000 km per year, the best economic and safe choice will be seasonal tyres – summer tyres from spring to summer and winter tyres from autumn to winter.
Which tyres to choose?
The decision to change your tyres on time is only half the battle. The second is their choice – the purchase and the quality of the exchange. In the first case, it must be remembered that branded tyres are a guarantee of quality and durability. Reputable manufacturers ensure that their products have the best possible performance, as well as durability and low rolling resistance. In addition, in the next sizes in premium and quality brands, they are introducing reinforced tyres with increased load capacity (XL) and slowly also with high load capacity (HL). European rankings and independent tests of automotive editorials clearly show that in terms of, inter alia, grip on wet and dry surfaces, skid resistance and braking distances, proven companies offer products with the best parameters. So for sure every driver or fleet will choose something for their cars. With more vehicles in the fleet, it is much better than just the purchase price to be guided by the total cost of tyre use. It may turn out that more expensive tyres last up to twice as long and help lower fuel costs at the same time thanks to lower rolling resistance. Exactly like saying that really frugal people cannot afford the cheapest products.
What tyres we do not choose, the key rule applies – do not buy used tyres, because it is not known what their technical condition is.
– Used tyres are like worn underwear. It seems to be fine with it, but after numerous washes, the damage to the structure is irreversible. The same is with the tyres. While they may appear to be in working order visually, it is uncertain if they have internal damage caused by e.g. driving with too little pressure – which is unfortunately common. What's worse, without specialized equipment, in practice used only in factories, we are not able to verify it. If such a defective product would end up in a delivery vehicle, then with its weight and tonnage transport, there is a very high risk of the tyre tearing or exploding while driving. It is much better to buy new tyres, even of the budget class, than used premium tyres – ads Sarnecki.
A decent workshop is certified
The fitting of the tyres is just as important as the choice of tyres. Unfortunately, the service is not equal to the service. They are often run by random people who learn the basics of the profession from their clients. And the lack of skills of employees and the necessary equipment means that the customer and his tyres are charged with all unavoidable errors. In extreme cases, it may even require the purchase of a new set. Not to mention the consequences of tightening screws too loose or too tight. However, such mishaps and unnecessary costs can be avoided. All you need to do is choose a professional, certified service. The Polish Tyre Industry Association – seeing the scale of the problem with the quality of workshops – together with the independent certification company TÜV SÜD introduced a system of evaluation and awarding professional services based on an independent audit of equipment and qualifications of service technicians. A map of the workshops that have passed the TÜV SÜD audit and received the Tyre Certificate can be found on the website certyfikatoponiarski.pl.
– We support and promote services that are aware of the responsibility they take when handling customers' tyres and apply the highest standards of work. The certificate is proof of this. To get it, the service must undergo an audit of equipment and skills as well as customer service, documented with photos. These services will not damage the tyres and the driver will be sure that the work has been exemplary – summarizes Piotr Sarnecki.
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Source: Polish Tyre Industry Association