A corporate fleet of vehicles is an element of every well-functioning enterprise. It should be economical, safe and trouble-free – especially since the intensity of use of company cars is up to 4 times greater than that of private cars. Achieving this is not easy. Especially as the budget cuts will be directed in the wrong direction, for example of tyres and their handling. It is worth calculating that with good quality tyres, savings of up to 0.4l/100 km per car per year and multiplied by the size of the fleet, can result in an unexpectedly high amount – much higher than buying cheaper and worse tyres.
Passenger cars and vans, which are part of fleets, most often travel from several dozen to even 100 thousand. kilometers per year. Unfortunately, constant use, high performance goals, inattention and exhaustion contribute to the damage caused by drivers. Although they constitute approx. 8 percent. of all road users, they account for over 30 percent. accidents. Therefore, as part of training in the field of improving driving techniques, dedicated to this professional group, it is instilled, inter alia, practical knowledge of how to safely operate a vehicle and take care of all its essential elements. This also includes the tyres. Rushing – especially in bad weather – is a bad advisor. Drivers are not aware that the contact area with the road in the case of cars up to 3.5 tons often does not exceed an A4 sheet. And that's counting all four tyres, which are the only element connecting each car to the road.
– Remember that when driving on the highway, the tyres rotate at a speed of over a thousand times per minute. Their quality determines the driving and safety of the vehicle and the driver. They have a greater impact on the accident rate than we think, which is why it is so important – not only from the business point of view – to choose only decent, branded tyres, the quality of which increases our chances on the road – points out Piotr Sarnecki, General Director of the Polish Tyre Industry Association (PTIA).
TCO is the key to a fleet manager
In the process of calculating the costs necessary for the fleet, a number of factors are taken into account that can ultimately be used to determine the total operating costs – the so-called Total Cost of Ovnership (TCO). Among the elements that are taken into account are, inter alia, fuel consumption, mileage, service as well as tyres. This last point, although it does not seem to be that important, plays a key role in the potential calculation of the cost of using the vehicle.
– Tyres affect both fuel consumption and service intervals. Good, reputable brands, apart from greater safety, also ensure higher mileage and lower fuel consumption. However, to fully implement the topic of tyres, apart from the tyres themselves, two more aspects are needed – professional service as well as proper pressure and operation. If the services do not focus on who will replace the tyres faster – and drivers know that the correct pressure means better grip, shorter braking distance and lower fuel consumption – then we can talk about a fleet that also uses its full potential in terms of tyres. achieves the highest efficiency – ads Sarnecki.
Ideal fleet
A study by Webfleet Solutions shows that 42 percent. Commercial fleets are involved in 1-5 road collisions annually. As much as 84 percent managers admit that poor driving style has a negative impact on their business. Even 50 percent. states that there is no certainty that their drivers behave safely on the roads, and 51 percent. thinks he has too much downtime in his vehicles. Investing in premium tyres may seem financially demanding at first, but over time everyone will notice the advantages of this expense[1]. High mileage – characteristic of fleet vehicles - naturally indicates the choice of higher-class tyres. Why? Because their construction and technical advancement make them more durable, and thus they can cover longer distances than on their cheaper counterparts.
Another important issue related to the fleet of vehicles is the selection of tyres to the conditions in which the car is moving. Due to the high mileage - fleets use tyres dedicated to the season rather than all-season tyres, which, especially in the spring-summer period, wear out much faster than typical summer tyres. Regardless of the final choice, however, these tyres are subjected to demanding tests. It is therefore a guarantee of better traction and shorter braking distances.
– We observe that companies from the CFM industry, when choosing tyres, more and more often pay attention to technical parameters and durability, and not only to the price. It is known that the branded set of wheels will last longer. It can save fuel and allow you to minimize the risk of potential road incidents - because the right tyres shorten the braking distance, increase safety and reduce fuel consumption – explains Sarnecki.
The numerous tests that the tyres are subjected to are not only used to determine the stopping distance or grip on snow or water. While these are key parameters, economy is also playing an increasingly important role in the case of fleets. In the era of looking for savings, every penny is worth its weight in gold. Therefore, tyre manufacturers are trying to offer products with greater energy efficiency, and thus reducing fuel consumption. Savings of up to 0.4 l / 100 km per car, per year, multiplied by the size of the fleet, can make an unexpectedly high amount.
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Source: Polish Tyre Industry Association