Do not ignore a pressure situation
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OPERATORS SHOULD never forget that tyres — often ignored — play a vital role in a vehicle's (and firm's) profitability.
It's worth emphasising the significance of knowing the correct pressures intended for the tyres fitted to your vehicles, and, more importantly, the need to relay this information to drivers and service agents.
However. I would like to add three more essential bullet points to your 'Top Six Tips for Optimum Tyres' (which you suggested earlier this year — 'A pressure situation', CM 7 January).
• Always ensure the equipment used to check and correct the inflation of tyres is accurate and in calibration. Our experience has shown some equipment to be almost 10% inaccurate.
• Use the latest tyre pressure monitoring system technology to ensure your drivers are fully aware of the tyre pressures.
• Ensure your drivers are able to correct any irregularities in the tyre pressures, which will help you to minimise costly roadside breakdowns.
Again, our experience has shown drivers' daily checks only allow a visual check, which will not always identify low pressures.
C114's tests at Millbrook have proved that tyre pressures do affect fuel consumption, and, in the present economic climate, operators can't afford to ignore these potential savings.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that these savings can only he achieved by implementing robust tyre-management policies that are effective every minute of every day, all year round.
If you want to achieve maximum prolitabil4 you must ensure all parties buy into the process.
The latest tyre-pressure systems offer the hest solution to accurate, effective and immediate tyre pressure issues, and they should be an integral component on all CVs to ensure profitability and vehicle and load safety.
Paul Marriott Operations director SAFE Europe