It has long been the case that operators and engineers realise that having optimum pressures on their tyre fleet will result in optimum fuel economy.  Unfortunately as we are all pragmatists we know that very rarely do tyres get given the attention they deserve either in replacement or workshop servicing.  As a result we see from our study that most operators are running at around 85% - 90% to recommendation.  The cost of this under inflation is over 1.5% of the operators fuel budget.  So a vehicle doing 9 mpg at £4.50 will increase its costs by 4.5 - 6.7pence per mile on its fuel costs.  To expand this for every 100,000 spent on fuel, correct inflation would result in that figure being reduced to 98,500.  Not a great deal you may say but those with considerable budgets will have considerable overspends/savings. 

It is true to say that reaching utopia will be extremely difficult but in any management exercise having the data to manage is half the problem.  We have instances where deciding who is responsible for tyres pressures is just the beginning. It is a collective of people, from the originating fitter ensuring the correct pressure to begin with through to the driver each day making sure his tyres remain in a good condition, free from excessive damage to, finally, the workshops who are better placed than most to physically see and inspect the vehicles on a regular basis.

In summary it is clear that the industry remains stretched in delivery services consistently. It is up to us all in the tyre supply chain to review and recommend ways in which operators may save costs and if this means the development of another service or the employ of a ?pressure maintenance factory? then this may be the way forward as it is clearly evident saving fuel costs far outweigh the physical tyre costs.

We have all considered fuel saving tyres and products but if in the beginning the tyre?s operating conditions are not at its optimum then its cost saving and benefit will be lost.  The debate and trials continue?..

 

November 2006

 

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