When implementing a responsible purchasing policy, more and more fleet companies remember that buying tyres is an investment – only 5% of company's costs, which affects 40% of all operating costs. Buying high-quality tyres will pay off in their durability and lifetime.
Moreover, only premium class tyres offer the possibility of retreading, due to their strong carcass – i.e. applying a new layer of rubber in place of the worn tread – and thus to extend their mileage in a safe way. It is a responsible solution from the point of view of conducting business and caring for the natural environment, and directly translates into savings of entrepreneurs in the logistics industry. When buying new tyres for our fleet before winter, let's look at the total cost of their operation, not just the cost of the purchase itself. Unbranded tyres are not only an apparent saving, but also pose a potential danger on the road and create the risk of delay in delivery, as well as the occurrence of additional costs connected with malfunctions.
low-quality tyre for steer axle will last only for about 120-150,000 km, while brand name tyres will cover over 222,000 km. If we take into account the option of retreading, the tyre lifespan can reach up to 450,000 km.
One must not forget about correct tyres pressure – maintaining its correct level can reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.3 l per 100 km and ensure even wear of the tread on all tyres. It is also worth remembering that neglecting wheel balancing in trucks results in faster wear of the vehicles’ suspension components.
– According to ADAC Truck Service’s data, tyre malfunctions account for 30 percent of all mechanical procedures on roads and are the second cause of malfunctions in Germany, the first being electronic shutdowns. Downtime means losses and contractual penalties, many of which could be avoided by buying high-quality truck tyres. The tyre is the third fastest rotating element of the car – on the road professional drivers should have no doubts that the tyres they ride on guarantee them the highest level of safety – Piotr Sarnecki, PTIA General Director points out.
Reasonable and responsible purchasing policies of fleet and transport companies are also an important element of traffic safety and work safety of drivers – according to police statistics for 2018, in as much as 24% of accidents caused by technical malfunction of cars, tyres were found to be in bad condition[3]. Truck vehicles are particularly vulnerable to possible failures due to the condition of their tyres – due to their number and weight of a loaded car.
– Every entrepreneur has the life and health of their employees at heart – in the transport industry, the safety of other road users is equally important. Every transport company has one goal: to transport the entrusted cargo to the customer – which is often worth several hundred thousand of euros – in undamaged condition, to a specific place and within the expected time frame. Accident or fender-benders mean huge losses for companies and the cost of a new semi-trailer truck is almost half a million zlotys. You mustn't save on your company's safety! – emphasizes Piotr Sarnecki.
[1] Automotive Industry Yearbook 2019/2020, Polish Automotive Industry Association
[2] With an average mileage of 240 thousand km and consumption 30 L/100 km
[3] Road accidents in Poland in 2018, General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and Traffic Office of the Police Headquarters, Warsaw 2019
Source: Polish Tyre Industry Association