Winter/Summer wheels & tyres storage

[dopamine]

Morning all,

I was hoping to get your thoughts on something:

I have been thinking about a winter tyres/wheels storage addition to my business. This is pretty standard practice on the continent, especially Germany where your tyres have to be changed twice a year minimum. When your winter set is on, the summers are sent away by the fitters and held in storage, and returned to your fitter before the summer, and vice verca with the winters.

Obviously we don't have the same winter tyres usage in the UK *yet* but I suspect the benefits of these tyres will eventually make it into the public mindset.

Given PHers are pretty much the forefront of motoring in the UK I'm interested in your thoughts as I dare say that if this is of interest to PHers, then it probably will be to everyone in time.

Thanks in advance for your input

Cheers

Travis
Pistonheads Tyres
http://pistonheads.tyregiant.com

[dopamine]

Hello all,

Thanks very much to those that have replied so far

DonkeyApple - Interesting thought re the rental of winter tyres - I hadn't thought of that... I expect it will require a serious look from a legal team to make sure that this kind of thing wouldn't open us up to potetial legal issues in the event a well worn, albeit legal tyre was to be involved in a crash... interesting though...

Shaw Tarse - Yeah, pretty much.

annsxman - Tyre Hotels are a pretty big business in Germany. I would be interested in in knowing how many local garages over there send off the tyres to a central storage depot... I agree that home storage is likely the biggest competitor to a scheme like this, but I think some will see the benefit of not getting their hands dirty and not taking up space, especially if it is in short supply.

Jimboka - We actually have the largest fitter network in the UK currently (KwikFit have about 650 compared to over a 1000 in the Tyre Giant network) so I think we can make it fly, especially as we also have 5 massive warehouses for the tyres spread across the UK where we can centralise storage for those fitters who are unable to store long term...

Whitean3 - Agree completely with the sentiment. My thoughts are IF tyre storage does get taken up, either through public acceptance or through governmental decree, being the ones who are already running a scheme could prove a sound move... big old IF though eh?

Interesting comment about cleaning them also - agree completely that it is the perfect time for cleaning and even refurbing if needed.

RobM77 - completely agree with all of your points - obviously for us, it would be an additional upsell service for the tyre business as a whole, rather than a business in its own right, moreover it is a service that will cost little for us to implement as we have much of the infrastructure in place, bought and paid for... certainly in terms of our depots - my next discussion will be with ur network of fitters who may nix the whole thing before it begins if they don't like it - that siad I'm yet to find a fitter that doesn't like an opportunity to fit a few more tyres

Thanks again for the really considered answers - will be interesting to see how winter tyres in the UK evolve over the coming few years.

Cheers

Travis
Pistonheads Tyres
http://pistonheads.tyregiant.com

[dopamine]

Hello again,

Shaoxter - Yep, this is what I'm thinking. Agree on the comment about them being perceived as 'snow' tyres, with the majority not realising that even on roads that are a few degrees lower than normal winter tyres will result in massively lower braking distances - even in the dry... I need to find a good place to pass on the message - anyone know a good motoring forum Perhaps a bit of government lobbying might not go a miss...

Donkeyapple - I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment. The fleet business works very differently to the B2C market and indeed (especially in the case of KF) does work on a monthly fee that covers the fleets tyre requirements. The problem being that to try to get into the fleet business, one that is largely closed/sewed-up/jobs-for-the-boys is, er, *tricky*.

RobM77 - Indeed you are right about the buyers - also a big market are people like PHers who are savvy to the benefit in the day to day driving we all do. What we need now is for the message about the significant safety benefits to get out there a bit more - spoken like a guy that s sells tyres right

Cheers

Travis
Pistonheads Tyres
http://pistonheads.tyregiant.com

[dopamine]

Morning all,

Thanks for all the input

Viper - Yes I'd seen them and agree £50 is a very good price with most fitters charging between £12 & £15 per tyre for fitting! Basically storage for free!

ging84 - Interesting comments... I am not familiar with what happened with the insurance companies - could you elaborate? Did they charge more if you changed on to winters?

Glosphil - Sounds like a neat little device - where did you get it?

Jimboka - Aye - it's all official and above board

FBP1 - Was it a standard advertised service? Or are they just helping you out as a one off? Interesting that dealers would do this, especially at such a keen price. Agree with your point about not getting dirty or hassled - that strikes me as the reasons people might go for this. Interesting also about you mentioning skiing - that seems like a good set to market to

Thanks again all, if anyone needs tyres anytime soon PM me and I'll sort you a good price,

Cheers

Travis
Pistonheads Tyres
http://pistonheads.tyregiant.com

[dopamine]

Shaw Tarse - Interesting, but overall seems like they don't care provided the same wheels are used and the tyres are up to spec... the modification thing seems a bit rich, and I would like to see an insurance company standing in front of a judge arguing why they won't pay out because their client had fitted safer tyres during winter...

Interesting none-the-less.

Cheers

Travis