Low Cost Vans

Just a quick one today to remind van drivers of the importance of regular tyre checks. With forecasts of bad weather still on the cards and not long after the latest bout of the worst winter storms for years, some roads have been badly affected by floods (standing water, potholes, etc.) and if you have been driving on them recently; the tyres on your van may need attention. Tyresafe , the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and worn tyres, have released some good tips and advice to keep in mind when driving in these hazardous conditions. Read Tyresafe's helpful advice below: While driving through deep flood water has a wide range of associated risks and should be tackled with extreme caution, smaller areas of standing water may be less easy to avoid but equally dangerous. On vehicles equipped with tyres that have insufficient or low levels of tread depth, water between the tyres...

You already know that proper tyres and maintenance are key component to your vans’ safety and performance, but were you also aware that there is an "Online Tyre Catalogue" to help you in your tyre purchase options? In a recent press release this week, CAM Systems , the tyre management software provider announced they are joining TyreSafe as its latest member to help further reduce the number of tyre related road deaths and accidents. Adding to the diversity of TyreSafe supporters, ranging from car and tyre manufacturers, retailers, emergency services and public sector organisations, CAM Systems will assist TyreSafe in a wide range of campaigns aimed at raising the awareness of correct tyre maintenance. Mike Allen, managing director CAM Systems, said “ CAM Systems will make an important contribution to tyre safety by its direct interface with its many customers through its tyre data management initiatives on a daily basis who in turn will be speaking to those on the front lin...

According to a recent survey conducted by online tyre retailer Delticom, trading in the UK as mytyres.co.uk , a large amount of driver's did not know of the benefits of fitting winter tyres onto their vehicles. The survey also showed that many of these drivers rated being able to maintain mobility during winter conditions as a high priority. Were you aware that when the air temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius your summer tyres, which are fitted to most new cars in the UK, do not perform as well as winter or cold weather tyres which have the capability of not just dealing with snow but also coping with icy conditions as well? And drivers are six times more likely to have an accident in winter months and nearly half of all accident claims are made during winter(Source: Continental Tyres press information, 11/2012) Delticom's recent post says, "The major benefits of fitting winter tyres is to stay safe on the road and to be prepared if wintery road conditions arrive ove...

 In the current economic climate, many vehicle owners are looking for ways to save a bit of cash and recent reports say drivers are cutting back on essential motoring maintenance as one way of achieving this. According to a new TyreSafe campaign, Tyre safety remains a significant problem in the UK. The latest figures available from the DfT show that in 2011 there were more than 1,100 tyre related casualties on the UK’s roads. To ensure we are all familiar with the risks of purchasing part worn tyres, TyreSafe will be hosting its first ever webinar on Monday 25 th February. The session is free to join and will provide attendees with a summary of the legislations affecting the sale of part worn tyres. It will also deliver some practical advice on how the tyres should be inspected, common problems to look for and what steps must be taken to ensure used tyres are sold legally. It is estimated that more than four million part worn tyres are now sold annually in the UK. Each part worn tyre...

Today is the day. November 1st marks the day that the Europe-wide tyre labelling system will come into effect. The labels will look similar to the ones already placed on white-goods. FleetDirectory.co.uk has posted a thorough article explaining what has changed and breaks down how fleets can save money by fitting more energy efficient tyres. The post also includes some helpful infographics. Although purchasing better quality tyres can cost significantly more, they offer pretty sound money saving advice. Read the post titled, " Tyre labels to help companies cut fuel bill by £500 million " by clicking here

Michelin winter tyres have been given the Which? brand seal of approval. In a recent press release, Michelin announced that their Michelin Alpin A4 has once again been affirmed as a ‘Best Buy’ in both the 14 and 16 inch sizes tested. The 165/70 R 14 Alpin A4 was described by Which? testers as: ‘The highest-scoring 14in winter tyre in our test. Best for handling and stability on dry roads and stopped in the shortest distance when braking on ice. Good fuel economy and a projected lifespan of 47,000 miles make it easily the most hard-wearing tyre on test.’ Malcolm Scovell, Commercial Director at Michelin, said: “The publication of this test, just ahead of the introduction of tyre labelling on 1 November, will hopefully help continue to raise awareness of the safety and mobility benefits of fitting cold weather tyres during the winter months." Michelin recommends that drivers fit cold weather tyres in the UK and Ireland during the winter months from October to March. In many Europea...

Did you happen to see Wednesday night's BBC Watchdog programme? They did a segment about spare tyres and how they are now no longer being included as standard when purchasing a new vehicle. According to the show, manufacturers claim that in the interest of fuel economy, the tyres had to go. Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive, was on the show being interviewed by one seriously intimidating Anne Robinson. He held his own while explaining the importance for van and car owners to familiarise themselves with their new vehicles and encouraging buyers to ask about spare tyres before purchasing your vehicle. The SMMT have also posted information on their website regarding the spare tyre issue and include a video of Mr Everitt giving a briefing on the new spare wheel changes that many of us seem to be unaware of. To view the briefing and to read the SMMT post, please click here . If you missed the BBC's investigative programme, you can view the latest episode on the BBC Watchdog webs...

TyreSafe has issued a press release encouraging motorists to consider fitting winter tyres, which are the safest option when the temperature drops below seven degrees celsius. TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and worn tyres. Winter tyres offer safer motoring because they have been specifically designed to cope with wintry conditions such as snow and ice, but also more everyday circumstances faced by motorists, like wet and damp conditions, when the temperature drops below seven degrees celsius. They differ from normal tyres in that they contain more natural rubber and advanced silica, reducing the hardening effect experienced by other tyres when the temperature plummets. “While last winter was actually milder than normal, these statistics are ample reason for motorists to still consider swapping to winter tyres from October to March, in fact 147 very strong reasons,” sa...

In a recent post, Autoblog reported that Goodyear, the world's largest tyre company, has officially developed a new self-inflating tyre for commercial vehicles. The new technical term for Goodyear's system is called Air Maintenance Technology. The post offers a handy infographic showing how the new system works and also includes a link to Goodyear's official press release on this new technology.  Please click here  to read Autoblog's post titled, " Goodyear unveils self-inflating tires for big trucks ," written by Zach Bowman.

TyreSafe has released information regarding the launch of a new film for businesses explaining how they can significantly reduce their fuel bills and ensure safer driving by correctly maintaining the tyres on their fleet vehicles. Businesses and fleet operators that implement a tyre maintenance policy will benefit from lower running costs and ensure their vehicles are as safe to drive as possible. In reading the latest statistics from TyreSafe, they estimate that a third of vehicles on the UK’s roads have dangerously under-inflated tyres. With a million new cars registered every year by fleets and businesses, they have expressed their concern for fleets that do not have a tyre maintenance policy in place and would like the film to inspire more businesses to understand that tyre pressure matters. The short film available to watch at TyreSafe, gives a graphic example of how the higher running costs for just one car can quickly escalate when applied to a typical larger fleet. According to...

I came across an article advising all motorists to check their tyre tread and air pressure during this wetter than ever summer. With June being declared as the wettest since records began, TyreSafe have published information advising how to test your tyres for appropriate tread. In order for your tyres to grip the water logged roads and to avoid aquaplaning, it is essential that your tyres have sufficient tread depth. The website advises using this method: "The simple test involves inserting a 20p piece into the main grooves of the tyre. If the outer band of the coin is visible, then the tyre tread may not have sufficient depth and should be inspected by a qualified specialist." To view more information regarding this valuable safety tip, please go to TyreSafe's website here .

From the  1 st of November 2012, European rules require that all new tyres sold are to be labelled with a grading system. These new labels will rate tyre fuel efficiency, wet grip performance, and the exterior rolling noise. This is meant to allow consumers and companies to increase and better control safety and fuel economy. Fuel-efficiency and wet grip performance will be rated using a letter grading system. The grades will range from A down to G. Grade A being the highest efficiency and G the least efficient, while tyre noise will be rated on a decibel system. Starting in July, tyre companies should begin the transition by adding the grading label to all tyres sold.  To see the new labels and for more details, view them on the Michelin tyre website here