Tyres are estimated to make up around one-third of a fleet manager’s maintenance budget. Andrew Don speaks to the experts about the benefits and drawbacks of different cost options

Fleet managers can use franchised main dealers or independent garages when it comes to service, maintenance and repairs. But should they choose between them or opt for both?

How far will a car realistically go on a full tank of fuel? Most fleet operators will know it isn’t as far as manufacturers lead you to believe in their advertising.

Effectively managing uptime is crucial for any fleet operator, but perhaps nowhere more so than for breakdown companies and emergency services, whose vehicles are vital to public safety

Tyres have a vital role to play in the smooth operation of a business and the way they are acquired can have a significant impact on fleet costs.

Many vehicles use the additive to comply with the Euro 6 emissions standard, but top-up intervals and costs vary massively. Christopher Smith reports

Extending the working lives of tyres – and improving their performance – can be achieved in a variety of ways. We investigate stopping distance, regrooving and minimum tread levels

Just four patches of rubber keep vehicles on the road; looking after your tyres is vital for driver safety. Andrew Ryan and Sam Mace report

In this special report, Commercial Fleet offers insight on how minimising vehicle off-road time can save a business money, improve customer loyalty and boost its reputation.

With fewer moving parts to maintain, fleets could cut their SMR bill by up to 40% by running an EV versus a diesel or petrol car.

Regular servicing and daily inspections for vans result in SMR and fuel savings, says Darren Moor

Effectively managing your VOR time can minimise disruption and save money

Increased demands from growing LCV fleets have forced manufacturers, leasing companies and independents to up their game on service, maintenance and repair

Manufacturers are increasingly removing spare wheels from cars to increase efficiency. But fleets want the ability to change tyres, reports Jonathan Manning

Figures show more than a million vans on the road likely to fail Class 7 test

Does it pay van fleet operators to use smart repair or do second-hand buyers expect vans, unlike cars, to exhibit signs of wear and tear? John Charles finds out

Tyres can account for a third of a fleet’s total running cost, but this impact can be mitigated by an effective tyre policy. Alisdair Suttie reports.

New developments are shaping the way windscreens are both used and repaired. Sarah Tooze reports on the latest advances

Alisdair Suttie reports on the future for tyre technology over the next few years.

More than three-quarters (77%) of fleets would like to see all manufacturers offer pre-paid service plans, according to a Fleet News poll.

It’s a year since the EU launched its tyre labelling system, we investigate what impact it is has had on tyre decision-making.

How manufacturers are making sure cars with electric power stay on the roads.

Steve Haigh, group transport manager at Rhodar, explains why removing tyres from his contract hire and maintenance agreement was a good move.

Archant has saved an estimated 15-20% on its maintenance costs by switching from contract hire with maintenance to pay-as-you-go.

Larry Bannon, national fleet service manager at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) explains why he outsources maintenance at a fixed cost and why his maintenance bill is lower now than nearly a decade ago.

O-licence standards help Wakefield cut its fleet overheads.

Traditional fleet service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs can be forecasted down to the final penny at the benchmark three years/60,000 miles - but a raft of ‘grey areas’ fuelled by numerous factors means contract hire and leasing companies continue to build up contingency funds to meet the cost of the unforeseen.

Longer service intervals and a trend for motor manufacturers to move the requirement for ‘expensive’ parts replacement - such as cambelts - beyond 60,000 miles has contributed to a decade long changes in the breakdown of service maintenance and repair (SMR) costs.

Common business sense means that contract hire and leasing companies do not want to make a loss on service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs so it is vital that they undertake a robust risk assessment and measure and manage the lifecycle of individual vehicle components.

Fleet operators no longer have to stick with standard fit tyres all-year round, there is a range of options. Here we outline the pros and cons of each.

hen you consider that the only parts of a vehicle which actually touch the road are four areas of tyre each about the size of your palm, it can be too easily taken for granted.

With more than 30 million vehicles clocking up 35 billion miles in the UK each year, collisions are an everyday factor. But should you recharge damage to your drivers?

Police lead the way in reducing SMR bills by using parts removed from vehicle write-offs. Sarah Tooze looks at how it works and why more fleets are signing up.

Vans which are not properly maintained pose a hazard to drivers and pedestrians.

EU labelling scheme provides an at-a-glance guide to safety, but many attributes are ignored.

Introducing regular vehicle inspections can prevent serious problems from occurring.

Fleets are increasingly considering different ways to manage and pay for service, maintenance and repair. We consider the pros and cons of the various options.

It's helpful, but key criteria such as wear, dry braking and handling are missing.

Implement our checklist to put tyres at the centre of your fleet priorities.

Autoglass's national sales manager is a would-be Incredible Hulk who has learned volume is for vanity, profit for sanity.