This season’s talking point is shaping up to be winter tires and what pros and cons are attached to them. In order to provide its customers with some clarity on the issue, Mycompanyfleet, the automotive software division of human resources services provider NorthgateArinso, has outlined the means by which fleet operators can effectively evaluate their need for winter tires.
As Luck Hicks, business executive at Mycompanyfleet, points out, the U.K. government released a report earlier this year stating that industry needs to be better prepared for the winter months. “However, many fleet managers may be reluctant to suggest to their drivers that they switch to the special tires because of the additional costs involved in having two sets of tires.”
Yet there are more factors than just the tire purchase and fitment price to consider. Those serious about learning the true cost of equipping – or not equipping – their fleet with winter tires can apply a detailed cost-gain analysis. “One way to assess the need and the cost is to use fleet software to model a typical situation and calculate what the additional costs are compared to the savings that can be made in terms of reduced accident costs and, possibly, lower fuel bills through reduced skidding,” Hicks elaborates.
“Fleet managers have to balance the additional tire costs against the likelihood of increased accident rates without the tires, which have been proved to be more effective in braking and steering in both cold and wet weather conditions,” he continues. “The best way to do that is through modeling the situation using fleet software to identify the true costs and true savings that can be achieved. But if switching to cold weather tires saves one accident from occurring, then the tires more than likely pay for themselves.”
In conclusion, Hicks refers to the standard manufacturer recommendation for cold weather tires and its relevance to U.K. driving conditions: “Seven degrees centigrade is a fairly typical winter temperature that most of us encounter out on the roads every day and currently we are seeing much lower temperatures than that. With such a cold start to the winter, cold weather tires may well have a real role to play this winter for many fleets.” (Tyres & Accessories)
