Company motor and winter tyres

[Dave9]

if you have a company motor can you legally just get the tyres changed over to winter tyres? normally if we have any tyre probs we just go to kwik fit so do i just do the same when I want winter tyres?

[mkopc167]

Ask your company fleet manager.

[plfrench]

I posed this very question to our HR department today. Dropped in their beloved words 'Health & Safety'too. It'll be interesting to hear their response, you could argue it is no different to them providing saftey boots, hi-vis, hard-hat etc for site work.

[Johnnytheboy]

Our lease company actually pre-buy certain number of tyres at Kwikfit branches.

So if they don't own any winter tyres (likely) we won't get any.

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Saturday 4th December 08:48

[Dave9]

mkopc167 said:

Ask your company fleet manager.

i will thanks but they aren't open now

[AAGR]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a fact that the use of winter tyres is compulsory in some European nations ? And, if so, does that mean that some people have more than one set of wheels ?

[Johnnytheboy]

An extra set of tyres isn't a necessity*, but would certainly make things easier.

• A lot of cars' standard wheels will not take winter tyres (too low profile), so an extra set of wheels is a necessity.

Having checked, neither my nor Mrs Theboy's cars seem to have winter tyres available for their wheels.

[Jazoli]

I'm having similar issues with my Van tyres, they are down to 3mm and offer very little in the way of grip in these conditions.

Transport say 'go to Kwik Fit' I go to Kwik Fit and the lease company L*x, won't authorise replacement until they are at or below 2mm

I'm expected to do a thousand miles a week on these, the lease company don't want to know, my employer doesn't want to know, the van's not got enough power to wear them out quickly (I've tried)

I'm just waiting till I end up in a hedge or a ditch.

[davidjpowell]

Jazoli said:

I'm having similar issues with my Van tyres, they are down to 3mm and offer very little in the way of grip in these conditions.

Transport say 'go to Kwik Fit' I go to Kwik Fit and the lease company L*x, won't authorise replacement until they are at or below 2mm

I'm expected to do a thousand miles a week on these, the lease company don't want to know, my employer doesn't want to know, the van's not got enough power to wear them out quickly (I've tried)

I'm just waiting till I end up in a hedge or a ditch.

If your firm is big enough to have a H&S department, and not to penalise you - they would be the place to go. Once it's been brought to their attention, they would be in a sticky wicket if you subsequently bent yourself, and I bet they know it!

[chris1roll]

Thats still better than some who won't replace them until they are actually illegal.
I've found Lex pretty good for routine maintenance.

[edc]

If your lease company has it just book the mobile service. All 4 Tyres replaced no questions asked here although the first time I went to kwik fit the leaseplan guy on the phone asked me whether the Tyres needed replacing. Why am I sitting on kwik fit if I didn't think they needed replacing!

[Dave9]

asked and they are getting back to me.

if i am doing a driving related job 5 days a week and live in a snowy area then surely they should by law have to sort this?

if they say no i'll send an email stating that I requested and they refused so if I have an accident due to skidding they will be on a sticky wicket.

thanks

[plasticpig]

plfrench said:

I posed this very question to our HR department today. Dropped in their beloved words 'Health & Safety'too. It'll be interesting to hear their response, you could argue it is no different to them providing saftey boots, hi-vis, hard-hat etc for site work.

They will probably get back to you in spring after setting up a winter working group and carrying out a full and detailed risk assessment.

[Dave9]

The Crack Fox said:

I wouldn't do that, there are plenty of drivers who can drive appropriately for the weather conditions who would want your job, no need to be heavy handed !

If they don't play ball, buy a set yourself and stick it on expenses as 'safety equipment'

cheers, yeah good points - i wouldn't be heavy handed.

i'd just send a quick email saying something along the lines of

thanks for your time on the phone earlier, you didn't agree to my request for winter tyres but this is just a quick email to ask you that if you change your stance on the issue please let me know

kind regards

dave9

[mcford]

The law states what is an acceptable minimum tread depth and the leasing company to their credit will replace the tyres before it reaches that limit. Applying the H&S argument can cut both ways, they might say that speed kills and have all their company vehicles limited to 50mph.

[Dave9]

mcford said:

The law states what is an acceptable minimum tread depth and the leasing company to their credit will replace the tyres before it reaches that limit. Applying the H&S argument can cut both ways, they might say that speed kills and have all their company vehicles limited to 50mph.

they won't change the tyres until they hit their minimum tread depth.

mind you, i'm not working at the moment as i'm signed off work and they still want me to do a 5 hour round trip next week in this car.

doesn't seem safe to me, but hey ho i'll have to do it.

[Johnnytheboy]

We're Lex too, they are a colossal pain.

The whole "We've got the right size and brand of tyres for you but you can't have them" thing is a real pain.

However...

If you call their mobile fitting number and get them to come out to you, they rarely refuse to change a tyre...

[cptsideways]

My brother works for Canon, has a company car, he fitted some winters last year following my advice as he could'nt get to his house thats up a big hill, it was quite a long walk & he's not fit

When requested to get to a big powwow meeting in the snow last year, he was the only one who actually got there & on time too. I think Canon have since or are changing their policy for their company car drivers to allowing winters to be fitted this year.

My other brother works for BT & they are H&S Mad, if he can't get out of his drive thats also on a steep hill he gets a day off! Yet he can drive up & down fine in his own cars, the BT van is useless in the ice & snow.

[CaptainSlow]

It all depends on your employer's tyre policy. I don't know of any leasing company in the UK that includes winter tyres as part of their standard offering Most leasing companies will change at 2mm unless otherwise agreed with their customer.

There has been a greater demand from companies to incorporate a winter tyre change over in their policies. Leasing companies are taking steps to ensure they can provide this.

[h11tsr]

Another question relating to this ....

If I decide to put on a winter set (alloys and tyres) does that affect the P11D figure for the car and therefore my monthly tax?

The manufacturer offers a Winter Pack which if I take at the time of ordering will no doubt be included as an option/accessory and therefore affect the P11D valuation.

Are winter tyres considered to be taxable options or maintenance?