Value for money when choosing tires: beyond the price

Although making assessments and trying to understand value for money when choosing a tire before purchasing it is extremely important, there are still few managers who carry out this analytical step.

This often happens because, in various operations, responsibility for buying tires falls to someone in the finance or purchasing department rather than the fleet manager.

In these cases, the choice is often driven by price, favoring cheaper tires.

That is why all departments must be aligned and maintain clear communication about what makes the most sense for the fleet and actually brings about a reduction in costs over the long term.

See below:

What should you consider when buying a tire?
How do you assess fleet tires?
How do you analyze value for money when choosing a fleet tire?

What should you consider when buying a tire?

To purchase the best-value tire for fleet vehicles, you need to start by considering the routes your operations use.

This is because each type of tire suits particular terrain and uses, so tires must be chosen appropriately to keep them in good condition longer and make good use of their useful life.

You should also assess tire characteristics such as durability, strength, fuel efficiency, grip in different weather conditions, and safety rating.

How do you assess fleet tires?

The assessment to understand value for money when choosing a tire should take place with tires already in use in the fleet.

The first step is to check tire pressure regularly, ensuring tires are always correctly inflated to the ideal pressure. Measuring tread depth is also important to determine whether replacement or retreading is needed.

Next, it is worth maintaining regular visual inspections, which can help identify signs of damage such as cuts and bulges.

It is also important to consider each tire’s history, including mileage, usage conditions, and any maintenance performed.

The assessment must be documented and the data collected must be analyzed to identify trends and make adjustments to the fleet’s tire management strategy. This data must also be used to understand and analyze fleet tire indicators.

How do you analyze value for money when choosing a fleet tire?

To understand value for money, you need to analyze not only the purchase price but also the total cost of ownership, including the tire’s useful life and associated maintenance costs.

See in more detail how to analyze value for money when choosing a tire:

1 – Calculate the tire’s total cost

To calculate a tire’s total cost, it is essential to consider its purchase price and factors such as maintenance frequency, retreading costs, and average tire durability.

For an accurate analysis, you need to record the mileage covered by each tire and recurring maintenance costs.

Calculate cost per kilometer (CPK) to understand how much the tire really costs your operation. With this calculation, you can compare different brands and models and choose those offering the best return on investment.

2 – Assess tire performance and efficiency

Observe how tires performed in different conditions and on different routes, considering mileage and average fuel consumption, for example.

Efficient tires that offer greater safety may have a higher initial cost, but provide savings in fuel consumption and help reduce accidents.

Also assess durability in specific operating conditions, since a tire may be excellent for certain routes, such as urban streets, but perform below average on others, such as interstate highways.

3 – Compare data from different tire models used in the same situation

Comparisons are essential in tire management, but it is important to make them fairly, considering different models operating under similar conditions.

As you gather data and generate analysis reports, you will be able to rank the fleet’s best tire brands, separated by each type of operation (long-distance transport, urban distribution, construction, and so on).

What is the main mistake when seeking value for money in tire selection?

One of the main mistakes when seeking value for money in fleet tire selection is focusing exclusively on the initial purchase price, neglecting other important factors such as durability, fuel efficiency, and maintenance costs.

Often, cheaper tires can result in a higher total cost of ownership due to their shorter useful life, greater need for replacement or maintenance, and lower fuel efficiency.

Therefore, taking a view that considers tire performance throughout its life cycle is essential to truly determine its value for money.

Ready to optimize your fleet’s tire management and ensure a choice of tires offering the best value for money?

Schedule a Prolog App demonstration today and discover how our solution can help you make better-informed decisions and save resources.

Frequently asked questions

What should you look at before buying a fleet tire?

Start with the routes the operation uses, because each tire model serves particular terrain and uses, and choosing incorrectly shortens how long the tire can be used. Then assess the tire’s characteristics: durability, strength, fuel efficiency, grip in different weather conditions, and safety rating. Price matters, but on its own it does not tell you whether that model suits your driving conditions.

Why are so many tire purchases decided by price?

In many operations, the person buying tires is someone from finance or purchasing rather than the fleet manager. The choice then tends to be driven by price, favoring cheaper tires. Hence the recommendation to keep departments aligned, with clear communication about what makes sense for the fleet and actually reduces costs over the long term.

How do you assess tires already in use?

Assessment takes place with tires already in use. The first step is to check pressure regularly, keeping each tire correctly inflated. Measuring tread depth indicates when to replace or send tires for retreading, and periodic visual inspection helps identify signs of damage, such as cuts and bulges. Also consider each tire’s history: mileage, usage conditions, and maintenance performed. Document everything, because this data reveals trends.

How do you calculate a tire’s real cost?

Add to the purchase price the factors that arise later: maintenance frequency, retreading costs, and average durability. To arrive at a comparable number, record mileage per tire and recurring costs, and calculate CPK, the cost per kilometer. With CPK, you can compare brands and models and see which offers the best return on investment.

Can a more expensive tire be worthwhile?

It can. An efficient, safer tire sometimes costs more to buy, but provides fuel savings and helps reduce accidents. That is why the calculation does not end at the purchase price: focusing exclusively on it while ignoring durability, efficiency, and maintenance is among the main mistakes, because a cheap tire may have a higher total cost.

How can you compare tire models fairly?

The comparison needs different models operating under similar conditions. Observe how each performed on different routes, looking at mileage and average fuel consumption. As data accumulates and becomes an analysis report, you can rank brands by operation type: long-distance transport, urban distribution, construction, and so on.

Search the blog