AA Tyre Fit is planning to target female customers with its new mobile operation which, it says, removes the intimidation felt by some women visiting a fast-fit workshop.

It is rolling out a national tyre stocking centre programme in conjunction with TNT as part of its switch to a fully mobile operation (Fleet NewsNet June 19).

The centres are expected to cover 74% of the company's business.

The remainder of tyres will be sourced through wholesalers, 'mini hubs' for isolated areas and AA service centres.

The initiative, which will be promoted on the AA's website from August 1, follows research from AA Tyre Fit which has found that 94% of its customers found mobile tyre fitting more convenient, with 86% opting to use the service over a traditional workshop.

AA Tyre Fit currently holds 65% of its business with fleets and has links with 54% of the UK's top 50 contract hire and leasing companies.

David Goodyear, general manager, said: 'The traditional fast-fit centre is a thing of the past and tyre networks that still maintain them do not have the right structure to survive in the future. We aim to offer the flexibility, pricing and service that tyre customers now expect.'

Fleets do not have to be AA members to use the service and in normal business hours there is no call-out fee.

The firm is also considering offering a battery replacement service in the future.