Subtle shifts
Van tyre consumption increases
Kwik Fit anticipates fitting similar volumes of tyres to company cars and vans in 2015, but is witnessing subtle shifts in consumption trends as vehicle usage changes.
Light commercial vehicle tyre consumption is growing as an increasing number of vans join the UK fleet – particularly due to the rise in home deliveries as a consequence of the internet shopping boom.
But also fuelling tyre replacement is an ever-increasing focus by van operators on at-work driving safety; fleets downsizing to vans having previously operated larger vehicles; businesses, notably utility fleets, turning to leasing vehicles having previously purchased their vans as well as cars; and Kwik Fit’s leasing company customers’ focussing on expanding their commercial van fleet operations.
Meanwhile, tyre consumption by company cars is reducing for a number of reasons including reducing mileage and rising demand for cars funded via salary sacrifice programmes.
Furthermore, the increasing fitment of telematics to vehicles as well as in-car and van cameras are driving improvements in on-road driver behaviour which is delivering reductions in fleet maintenance costs including tyre consumption.
The overall volume of new tyres fitted to company cars and vans by Kwik Fit has remained broadly constant during recent years and fleet director Peter Lambert forecasts little change in that figure in 2015 with the company retaining its market place leadership.
He said: “While Kwik Fit’s overall volume of fleet tyre replacement business will remain largely static, we are witnessing changes in the shape of the market. Van tyre consumption as an overall share of our fleet business is rising, while company car tyre consumption is contracting.”
Average tyre consumption across Kwik Fit’s fleet customers is approximately 1.85 tyres per vehicle per year, however in reality replacement varies enormously with some light commercial vehicle fleets fitted with as many as five new tyres per year.
