With rising costs in every part of our lives, it’s never been more important to make every penny stretch as far as possible – and vans are no exception. There are steps we can take in all aspects of our lives to make savings, but some are easier than others. The same is true with our vans, and because we use them regularly, they can leave their mark on our finances. One of the ways to help with this burden is with the right van tyres.
The right tyres for your van can help with fuel efficiency and vehicle handling, among other things, so they should be checked regularly to make sure they are in good condition. Changing tyres in the middle of a job or journey can be stressful – if you have a spare at all. Worn and damaged tyres will affect the overall performance of your vehicle, and it’s just something else to worry about.
Why Does Fuel Consumption Matter?
There are a few reasons why fuel consumption is important to all vehicle owners, with the most obvious being the effect it has on your finances. The lower your fuel consumption, the longer you can spend on the road between filling up. This makes you more efficient and profitable, while making it more likely you’ll have what you need for the upcoming job.
A fuel efficient van is also an indication that everything is running smoothly and properly. Engine faults and problems could be behind having to refill so often, which can be a double blow to your cash as you’ll refuel more and have to get the issues fixed. If you can spot this early, it could save you a good chunk of money.
Age is another factor. Everything wears with time, and while regular maintenance can help slow this rate of decay, when your efforts bring little to improvement, that’s a sign that a bigger change is needed.
What Will Reduce Fuel Consumption?
There are plenty of ways you can reduce your van’s fuel consumption. While each method might only have a small impact, when you combine more than one option, you can see impressive results that really make your van go further on a single tank of fuel.
While the savings you make on fuel will start small, that’s no reason to dismiss them as inconsequential. Over the months and years you’ll own and run the van, these savings will add up, freeing money for other parts of your business. You could invest them in new equipment or supplies, or save them for van maintenance and repairs – even a new vehicle when the time comes.
What Effect Do Tyres Have On Fuel Consumption?
Tyres can have a varying effect on van fuel consumption, and there isn’t just one reason for this. As with car tyres, there are a lot of brands and tyre options to choose from, but your van needs specialised tyres to handle the increased size, weight and load of the vehicle.
The different factors that can influence how tyres influence fuel consumption include:
- Tyre structure
- Tyre size
- Tyre weight
- Air pressure
- Rolling resistance
- Tread pattern
All of these elements play a part in creating a range of tyres to suit any situation, and thanks to accurate labelling, you can find tyres that suit your needs and lower your overall fuel consumption to make big savings. Take into account the vehicle you run, the environment and weather conditions you’ll face and even the life expectancy of your tyres to make sure you’re getting the best performance.
The weight of your vehicle
The weight of your van can have a huge impact on fuel consumption. This doesn’t just cover the weight of the vehicle, but the total weight including anything being transported on the journey. For delivery drivers, this could mean efficiency increases as deliveries are made and the van gets lighter.
It’s also worth considering weight distribution, too. If the weight is too heavily loaded at one corner or side, it can affect the handling of your van, which compromises your driving style and can have an effect on how much fuel you use.
While it takes time to do at times, it’s worth rearranging your cargo when large or multiple items are removed to ensure there’s no unexpected changes you have to account for when driving.
The Length Of Your Journey
Driving for longer periods at a time can allow you to maximise the fuel consumption of your vehicle. This is more difficult in the city, for example, where you’re more than likely to encounter multiple stopping points – whether that’s because you reach your destination or encounter traffic lights, roadworks, and other traffic.
The longer you drive without having to stop, start, stop, and start again the better your vehicle’s fuel economy will be. You can’t always rely on this, but planning your route in advance can help you find the best routes to keep you moving longer – even if it seems like it wouldn’t be the fastest or most direct path.
Driving At A Consistent Speed
One of the easiest ways to improve fuel consumption is to drive at consistent speeds. While stopping and starting does have an impact, this is sometimes unavoidable depending on where you are and the work you do.
When you are moving, driving at a consistent speed is a fantastic way to maximise fuel efficiency. Avoiding sudden braking and excessive acceleration will mean your engine isn’t working as hard and guzzling more fuel than it has to. This is true for any vehicle you drive, not just vans, but when you want to maximise your profits, it’s not something to miss out on.
This is another way that planning your journey can help, as you can avoid the roads where you’re likely to encounter traffic or other reasons to adjust your speed regularly.
Choosing The Right Tyres For Your Van
To make sure your vehicle is in the best condition, and able to run at its most efficient, choosing the right tyres can really help. This ties into the wider handling and performance of your van, as well as the benefits a good set of boots can bring on their own. There are a lot of options to choose from, with big name brands and some more economical options, that suit any needs you have.
You have to consider not only the price, but the environment you’re going to be driving in matters, too – as does the weight of the vehicle, as you’ll need tyres that can handle that load. There’s a lot to consider, but you can find plenty of reviews online and there are experts at your local garage who can offer advice, too.
Balancing Quality With Price
You might be tempted to choose the cheapest tyres available to save money, but this might not be the best option. While some budget brands are certainly worth looking at, better quality tyres can be a better investment in the long run.
If you’re not operating in rugged terrain, and don’t require winter tyres, you’ll find you have a lot of choice. Some drivers have a personal preference over the tyres used on their vehicle, while others look for the best deal available at the time, but it depends on what budget you have.
If you choose the cheapest tyres available, you might find yourself replacing them a lot sooner than you expect, and this cost can quickly add up.
Looking After Your Tyres
To make your tyres last longer, you should take care of them like you would any other part of your van. The easiest way to do this is to carry out regular checks on each tyre to make sure there’s no damage or issues that can cause issues. This will help you plan for when you need to replace the tyres currently being used.
The various conditions and environments you’ll be driving in could wear down the tread at different rates, and debris could pierce the rubber in some cases. This lowers the pressure of the tyres, which increases fuel consumption as the handling changes and suspension has to cope with uneven loads.
Even potholes or damage to tarmac roads in the city can cause damage over time, as can going over kerbs on a regular basis.
Tyre Choices That Can Help Your Fuel Efficiency
With so many tyre brands and products to choose from, it can be hard to know where to even start.
A popular choice for many van owners working on the road is the Continental ContiVanContact 200, which is available in a range of sizes and offers great performance in both wet and dry conditions. The durability means it’s suitable for a range of vans and the Continental brand is well-known around the world for delivering quality.
Falken is a budget brand but gets good reviews from other van owners, with the Linam Van01 offering a good balance between the quality of premium brands and the lower cost that can help drivers avoid breaking the bank. The Van01 tyre is a great choice thanks to excellent surface coverage and durability.
The Goodyear Cargo Vector 2 offers excellent traction all year round, even in wet conditions. This is brand known to many people, and they have developed great products for everyday life with their experience – helped by their involvement in motorsport to push tyres to their limit and bring those advantages to everyday road users.
When Is Fuel Consumption At Its Highest?
Every vehicle is different, and how it responds to your needs will depend on how you use it. Aiming to improve your fuel efficiency is a great way to make your budgets and finances go further, but while you can aim to lower fuel consumption through various methods, it’s important to know what situations to avoid where possible.
You should watch out for:
- Overloading the van – excessive weight will increase fuel consumption
- Using worn tyres – this will reduce their effectiveness
- Mechanical issues – can make the engine work harder
- Short journeys with no consistent speed
There will be times when you can’t avoid some of these situations, but if these times are few and far between, you can still make great savings in the long run. Keep in mind what you can do even if you have to overload the van for a short time.
Knowing When To Trade In Your Van For A New Model
No matter how well you look after your van, there will come a time when it costs more to maintain and run than you’re willing to invest in it. When this happens, it’s time to begin looking for a new model, and this presents an opportunity for you to look at other vans that offer an improvement in engine efficiency and performance at the same time.
While tyres can play a part in improving fuel efficiency, there are other methods you can take to make sure you’re getting the best value every time you refuel. Read the reviews to get an idea of what you can expect, and when you find one you like, you can sell your van to us at We Buy Broken vans for a fair price. That will give you a good investment towards your next van. Contact us to find out more about our process.
