Tructyre homes in on tyre health
Tyre care specialist Tructyre has outlined the critical importance for HGV fleets of tyre health and proactive maintenance.
As the only point of contact between a HGV and the road, tyres’ condition is of the utmost importance, says Iain Hayes, operations director at Tructyre & ATS Mobile – not only in terms of safety but operational efficiency.
“It is also a legal requirement,” he added.
“Current regulations state tread depth must be at least 1mm across the central 3/4 of the tyre, and driving with illegal tyres comes with a fine of £2,500 per tyre, penalty points and vehicle prohibitions impacting fleet operators and their drivers.”
But the benefits of driving on safe tyres must go far beyond a legal measurement, Ian says.
“In terms of safety and improved driving performance, tread depth and correct tyre pressure improve braking, reduce skidding, and the risk of accidents, including loss of control.
“Inadequate tyre health, conversely, can result in an increased risk of tyre-related incidents such as blowouts, causing costly downtime and more serious accidents and consequences.”
Scheduled proactive maintenance to monitor tyre health can have many advantages, Ian says, from maximising vehicle uptime and driver safety to cost savings.
“For example, identifying issues early on and applying tyre life extending services can minimise premature tyre replacements and reduce incidences of unexpected roadside breakdowns and vehicle off-road (VOR) time.
“At Tructyre we always advise operators adopt a proactive approach to tyre management. Mastercare+ is our proactive tyre inspection and rectifications service, all administered via our highly skilled, experienced and trained technicians.
“Mastercare+ supports the busy fleet manager with over 30 checks on a vehicle’s tyre condition. It provides rectification of identified issues to maximise vehicle uptime by preventing minor problems escalating. In addition it offers tyre life-extending services to safely prolong tyre life and reduce replacement costs.”
He continued: “Proactive tyre management simply means you are better prepared for whatever issues are thrown your way.
“Visible damage to tyres will be identified and repaired on-site, as well as uneven wear patterns addressed across fleets. Inspections will allow for tyre life extending services such as regrooving, twinning and turn on rim to take place, which not only helps to extend tyre life, but as an added bonus, comes with its own environmental benefits, too. In essence, healthy tyres aren’t disposed of too early whilst there is safe life left in them.
“Masterstart is our on demand reactive offer. It provides nationwide tyre cover to reduce downtime, improve safety, maximise compliance and provide peace of mind for fleet managers who don’t require regular inspections and reporting.
“Both solutions aim to minimise disruption and get vehicles back in service and on the road as swiftly as possible, reducing costly delays and logistical headaches.
“In essence, a proactive solution like Mastercare+ will ensure operators stay compliant, support on-road and driver safety, minimise downtime before it happens and in the long run, save them money too.”
