Then there is the operational or financial argument. “One of the key drivers is keeping a fleet fully operational throughout the winter months,” says a spokesman for Goodyear Dunlop.

A survey respondent who has fitted cold weather tyres adds: “We experienced less downtime due to the inclement weather – especially in the north – a lot more of our fleet was on the road than the previous year.”

Geoff Wright, head of corporate services at AAH Pharmaceuticals, is convinced that fitting cold weather tyres has helped the company win business. “We achieved deliveries when we know our rivals did not,” he says. “We won new customers on the back of it.”

He adds: “The biggest benefit of winter tyres is not in Scotland because they are used to that sort of weather – it’s in the counties where they don’t have harsh weather as often.”

A set of cold weather tyres costs around £400-500 although prices will vary depending on the size of the wheel, the tyre brand and make and model of the car. GE suggests it is possible to purchase a set of tyres for a family hatchback from £350.

Wright says that tyre management is crucial. AAH’s experiences show that cold weather tyres wear down quickly when the temperature rises above 7°C. He expects the tyres to last for two winters.

Goodyear Dunlop says that “after initial investment the only cost will be a minimal cost for storage and the cost of switching the tyres”.

Companies could choose to store the tyres themselves if they have sufficient space. GE advises checking the cold weather tyres for damage before putting them into storage and marking their previous position on the car if you wish to rotate them. However, some cold weather tyres are directional which means they cannot be rotated.

GE says that, as a general rule, if the tyres are mounted on rims they should be stored flat and if they are off the rims they should be stored upright. The tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place where they won’t be exposed to solvents, fuels or other lubricants.

Tyre fitters, such as Kwik Fit and ATS Euromaster, offer a ‘hotel’ facility. Kwik Fit’s service, which costs around £10, includes removing, packing, labelling and storing a company car or van’s standard tyres. In the spring the standard tyres are returned to each customer’s centre of choice for fitment with the cold weather tyres removed and stored until required again.
Some car manufacturers have also announced that their dealers will be offering a ‘swap and store’ service for cold weather and standard tyres.

Balance costs against reduced downtime

Fleet operators with maintenance included in their contract hire agreement could have cold weather tyres bolted on to their maintenance package.

Peter Fairlie, group sales director at ATS Euromaster, points out that any additional costs can be measured against the downtime following an accident, but some fleet operators still regard the costs as prohibitive.

“I am considering fitting cold weather tyres but the issue is cost,” Damian James, head of transport provision at Bracknell Forest Council, says. “There’s the cost of storage which would be added to my leasing contract, the downtime swapping them and you end up with two sets of tyres at the end of the contract.”

David Graham, fleet manager at Eon, is also unconvinced. “There are limited cases where cold weather tyres make sense but there are practical things to overcome,” he says. “The average tyre fitter damages beads too often when they change tyres, for instance.

Graham is also concerned that drivers will become complacent in adverse conditions if they have cold weather tyres fitted to their vehicle: “Drivers might think that because they have cold weather tyres fitted they don’t have to adapt their driving habits.”

Fleet operators also question if the weather in the UK justifies fitting cold weather tyres. “There is only a limited number of days when the weather is that bad and the sensible thing to do is to advise drivers not to go out,” Graham says.

James agrees: “We’re located in the south and the cold weather isn’t too bad. But for a large fleet in the north of England or Scotland there are real benefits.”

However, tyre manufacturers and industry bodies argue that the weather for most of the UK does warrant fitting them.

The SMMT says that for five months of the year UK temperatures average less than 7°C. However, this varies by region (see Fleet News View).

Crinson adds: “Much of the UK has ground frost for more than 100 days each year according to Met Office data (1971-2000). That’s a long period of time and in our view long enough to justify taking action to ensure safety.”

More on page three...