But what if a fleet operator is dissatisfied with his leasing provider’s tyre choice – can they have more say?

Roberts says: “We make our policy clear to our customers at the outset and the reasoning behind it. We have not encountered any issue with this approach.”

Denis Linehan, operations support manager at LeasePlan, points out that there needs to be an overarching tyre policy for logistical reasons.

“If we have 20 fleet managers wanting 20 different types of tyre we couldn’t manage the supply chain and the driver experience would be a nightmare,” he says.

LeasePlan has three preferred premium brands to ensure adequate supply. However, he says fleet operators can advise that they would like a particular brand and the company will try to accommodate it.

For the full results of the Fleet News tyre survey in association with Michelin, click here

A better use of tyre budgets?

Most (89%) fleets do not buy budget tyres such as Sava and Tigar. The most popular brands are Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, and Goodyear.

This is consistent with fleets naming safety as the most important factor when deciding which brand of tyre to purchase, followed by longevity.

Of the 11% who do buy budget tyres, price is the main reason although some respondents say they only use them when vehicles are near end of life or on vans that get damaged regularly.

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions agrees budget tyre use in commercial vehicles is more accepted. But, these are probably regarded as second line, rather than budget tyres.

However, other leasing companies argue that it is more important to fit premium tyre on a van because it will potentially do more miles than a company car.

Three tyres of tomorrow

Developing tyres for electric vehicles is one area that major tyre manufacturers are looking at.

Continental

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Continental presented a prototype of the ‘Conti.eContact’ tyre which has much lower rolling resistance than conventional tyres and can increase the car’s range.

Bridgestone

The company’s prototype for electric vehicles – the ‘Half Weight’ tyre – is half the weight of a regular model, helping to reduce overall vehicle weight and increase energy efficiency.

Michelin

A new tall and narrow tyre from Michelin has a larger diameter than most car tyres making it more energy efficient. It can increase electric car range by up to 5% as the tyre requires fewer turns to cover the same distance.

Guide to checking tyres

Visual check

Look closely and remove small objects stuck in the tread. Check for uneven wear. Tyres with excessive wear, bulges, cracks or deep cuts need replacing. This check should be carried out before every time one of your drivers gets in the vehicle – monitor it via a check list (particularly key for van fleets).

Measure tread depth

If you don’t have a tread depth gauge, use a 10p coin to check for the minimum 1.6mm of tread.

The distance between the outer edge of the coin and the dotted circle is 1.6mm. However, many tyre manufactures and safety organisations recommend replacing before this depth.

Pressure can affect wear

Over-inflated tyres will wear more in the centre of the tread, while excessive wear on the inside of the tread indicates pressure may be too low. If these tell-tale signs are present, check that tyre pressure is correct. Incorrectly inflated tyres take longer to stop the car and use more fuel.

Wheel alignment

Dips in front tyre tread could mean the wheels are out of balance. Lead weights secured to the wheel rim could be incorrectly specified or in the wrong position. Excessive wear on one side of the vehicle could also mean misaligned wheels. Wheels will need to be balanced by a specialist.