That small part of the tyre that is in contact with the road is surely the most important part of any commercial vehicle to check on a regular basis!

Unfortunately, a quick glance or even perhaps a swift kick will not tell you whether it is inflated correctly. Tyre pressure monitoring carried out at the NEC’S Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show revealed that more than one in 10 of vehicles tested had tyres that were under-inflated by over 20% – significantly below the tyre pressure levels recommended by manufacturers.  This is a clear demonstration of poor tyre pressure maintenance.  The lowest tyre pressure monitored at the show came in at a worryingly low nine psi (pounds per square inch).

The UK sees approximately 25 deaths and nearly 1,500 serious accidents every year attributed to poorly inflated or defective tyres.

Tyre pressure is also a critical factor in fuel economy and vehicle safety. Across Europe, this poor tyre management habit is creating two million litres of wasted fuel and costs in the region of 2.8 million Euros per year. For the environment this means 4.8 million tons of unnecessary CO2 emissions annually – the equivalent of 1.8g/km for every vehicle on the road.

Worn and poorly maintained tyres are also a major contributor to road traffic accidents and the English Highways Agency reports that over a three month period more than 15,000 breakdowns on motorways alone were attributed to tyre issues.

So what should you be aware of?

1. Build time into your driver’s day to allow them to carry out their daily checks
2. LeasePlan provides a digital tyre pressure gauge but it doesn’t work unless it’s used
3. Some tyre pressure monitor systems do not detect over inflation which can cause uneven wear of the tyre and impact its performance
4. Ensure drivers know what to look for in terms of tyre tread – LeasePlan change at 2mm rather than 1.6mm
5. Replace or repair punctures as soon as practically possible – you may need it tomorrow!
6. Check drivers are aware that being stopped for a faulty or illegal tyre will mean points on their licence and a potential fine.
7. Tyres do not become illegal overnight!