When dealing with numerous vehicles, buying and maintaining tires can be a big undertaking. Have you ever heard of the saying "a stitch in time saves nine"? Before tackling the tire portion of your fleet management strategy - pay close attention to these tips.
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Why not start at the beginning right? At first glance choosing tires for your vehicle seems pretty straightforward. Many fleet managers simply continue to purchase the size and style of tire that was on the vehicle when it was purchased. However, this strategy overlooks many safety and money saving issues that could potentially mean thousands of dollars for your bottom line.
Things to consider when purchasing tires for your fleet include the climate where you will be driving the vehicle, the road conditions said vehicle will travel upon, as well as driver preference - how smooth of a drive are you looking for?
Is the climate in which the vehicle will be driven relatively warm? Does stay warm for most of the year?
If the weather that the car will be driven in is a warm or relatively warm for most of the year - without temperatures that dip below freezing - you can feel comfortable buying a set of all-season or summer tires. The same is true if your business is seasonal with the vehicles taken out of commission during the winter months. Remember that the threshold for all-season tire safety is -7C, below which you may experience a loss in gripping ability and ultimately lower safety. 
If the climate in which the vehicle will be driven is seasonal such as weather in many parts of Canada or the northern United States, you should strongly consider purchasing a full set of all-season tires as well as a set of winter tires.
Reminder: Save money on seasonal tires swaps by purchasing rims for your second set of tires. This way, a mobile mechanic service can change over multiple sets in one appointment.
As mentioned, when the temperature drops below -7C a summer tire loses traction, which translates in longer braking distances.
Why does this happen? Summer tires become rigid at low temperatures since they are manufactured with a harder rubber compound and contain less natural rubber. There is a specific molecule in natural rubber that helps to keep tires supple in winter temperatures, since the softer rubber maintains a better grip on ice, snow and cold road conditions, winter tires are manufactured with more natural rubber.
Related: Get quotes on brand new tires
All-season tires are often referred to in Canada as "three-season tires" because are not up to the task during winter weather. Like summer tires, below -7C, all-season tires harden significantly and so lose traction. This is not the case with winter tires that offer greater handling, an enhanced adherence and shorter braking distances on new or packed snow, icy roads or on wet pavement.
This part is a little more difficult to pin down for fleet managers. Since you will not be driving the vehicle yourself you may need to make some assumptions.
If you like a quiet comfortable ride, look for tires that specifically mention comfort, smooth ride, or low road noise. Generally speaking, touring tires with lower speed rating (S, T or H ratings on the sidewall) are optimized for more comfort instead of more speed – it's recommended to never go below the speed rating specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Also, avoid aggressive tread designs – they may look cool but can generate lots of road noise. These types of tires are perfect for fleets that involve passenger vehicles such as taxis or shuttles.
If you prefer to feel every curve, it may be a good idea to look for high-performance tires. These tires are specifically designed to have better handling and precision at higher speeds.
