A gripping tale of winter tyres from Kwik-Fit Fleet
Kwik-Fit Fleet, Britain’s largest independent fast-fit company, is launching an inspired winter tyre programme that will offer corporate customers simultaneously a ‘hotel’ facility to store their summer tyres and is urging companies to arrange for summer tyres fitted to vehicles to be removed in October/November and beat the sever weather conditions the UK has seen over previous winters.
The ‘hotel’ facility will remove, pack, label and store each company car and van’s summer tyres in its Northamptonshire National Distribution Centre for £40. In the spring, the summer tyres will be returned to each customer’s centre of choice for fitment with the winter tyres removed and stored until required again.
Winter tyres, which are composed of more rubber and less silicone work best in temperatures under seven degrees and have wider grooves to give greater grip in snow and slush and more sideways grooves road surface contact; this produces shorter braking distances, thereby reducing the risk of a crash.
As well as improving road safety, swapping summer tyres for winter tyres designed to perform in the harshest of conditions could actually reduce fleet operating costs.
Peter Lambert, sales director for Kwik-Fit Fleet, explained: “Winter tyres last as long as summer tyres and perform better in winter conditions. Depending on vehicle mileage, winter tyres could last for two or even three winters. As, a result wear and tear suffered by summer tyres, which is increased in harsh road conditions, is reduced so postponing their replacement.”
Just like summer tyres, winter tyres are rated for the maximum amount of speed and weight they should carry. Typically winter tyres have a lower speed rating than equivalent summer tyres. However, even an H-rated tyre – one of the most popular rated tyres – has a maximum speed rating of 131 mph so even in winter conditions driving performance will not be compromised.
Mr Lambert said: “Fleets wanting to fit winter tyres to their vehicles should contact Kwik-Fit Fleet now and we will arrange for the correct tyres to be delivered to their centre of choice for fitment at a pre-booked time by one of our trained technicians. A similar service is available when the weather improves and fleets want their summer tyres refitted.
“We believe that the ‘hotel’ facility that we are offering which enables tyres to be stored is not offered by any other supplier and once again shows that Kwik-Fit Fleet is delivering industry-leading service.”
He added: “We have launched the special winter tyre programme for the first time this year because fleet demand for winter tyres has increased in the last two years due to the harsh winters we have seen. As a result, we are advising fleets to plan and book their changeover now as once the snow starts to fall it could be too late.”
Fleets can arrange their winter tyre schedule and book an appointment by contacting Kwik-Fit Fleet’s dedicated hotline – 01698 846457.
See also:
