Fleets could be saving themselves thousands of pounds each year by educating their drivers to look after their tyres better.

ATS Euromaster discovered one in five tyres (20%) are being replaced early owing to tyre damage that can often be avoided, after reviewing the tyre replacement cycle across two of its major fleet customers, totalling more than 100,000 lease vehicles.

The study revealed that the average remaining tread on tyres removed through damage is 4.8mm, leaving 3.2mm of tread on the tyre ahead of the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Across a sample fleet of 25,000 vehicles, this damage is costing more than £440,000 each year in wasted mileage potential.

Even considering a large number of fleets have policies to replace tyres at 3mm the findings reveal reducing tyre damage could save fleets thousands of pounds.

Punctures (31%), sidewall damage (27%) and drivers exceeding the 50mph/50mile limit on deflated run-flat tyres (22%) accounted for the vast majority of tyres replaced prematurely.

“In many cases this damage could be avoided and we are actively encouraging fleet managers to cascade this information back to their company’s drivers,” explained Steve Bury, head of National Car at ATS Euromaster.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone as longer tyre life means reduced cost, downtime, hassle and fewer tyres being disposed of prematurely, which in turn benefits the environment.”