Ensuring Optimal Performance Through Regular Maintenance

Maintaining your leased vehicle is essential not only for ensuring safety and compliance with legal requirements but also for keeping your car in optimal condition throughout the lease period. Regular maintenance helps prevent unexpected repairs and keeps the vehicle running smoothly, which can ultimately save you time and money.

When leasing a vehicle, you are typically responsible for its maintenance. This includes routine servicing, tyre maintenance, and any necessary repairs. Ensuring that these tasks are completed as per the manufacturer’s guidelines is crucial to avoid potential penalties and to ensure the vehicle remains safe and reliable. This responsibility means regularly checking and maintaining tyres, brakes, fluids, and other consumables to ensure everything is in working order​

Tyre Maintenance and Replacement

Who is Responsible?

In most leasing agreements, the lessee is responsible for maintaining the tyres unless a maintenance package is included. These maintenance packages can cover various aspects of vehicle upkeep, including tyre replacements, making the process more convenient and cost-effective. Without such a package, you must ensure that the tyres meet all safety and legal requirements throughout the lease term​

Regular tyre maintenance includes checking for adequate tread depth, inspecting for damage or wear, and ensuring correct tyre pressure. Failure to maintain your tyres properly can result in penalties when returning the vehicle and can also compromise your safety on the road​

Benefits of a Maintenance Package

Opting for a maintenance package with your lease agreement can offer numerous benefits:

Comprehensive Coverage: Maintenance packages often cover routine servicing, necessary repairs, and tyre replacements. This ensures your vehicle is always in top condition and meets all safety requirements​

Financial Predictability: These packages provide peace of mind by spreading the costs of maintenance over the lease period, helping you avoid unexpected expenses. This predictable monthly expense can make budgeting easier and more manageable​

Legal Requirements and Safety

In the UK, maintaining the legal and safety standards of your vehicle's tyres is crucial:

Minimum Tread Depth: UK law requires tyres to have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Regularly checking your tyres to ensure they meet this requirement is essential to avoid fines, penalty points, and potential safety hazards​

Risks of Illegal tyres: Driving with tyres below the legal tread depth can lead to serious consequences, including increased risk of accidents, fines, and penalty points on your driving licence​

Signs That Tyres Need Replacing

It's important to know when your tyres need replacing to maintain safety and compliance:

Worn Tread: If the tread is worn down to the legal limit of 1.6mm, it's time to replace your tyres. Regularly inspect your tyres for wear indicators or use the 20p coin test: if you can't see the outer band of the coin when inserted into the tread, the tyre is too worn​

Visible Damage: Look for visible signs of damage such as cuts, bulges, or uneven wear patterns. These can indicate underlying issues that need immediate attention and possible tyre replacement​

Types of Tyre Damage

Bulges and Lumps

Bulges and lumps in tyres indicate internal damage, usually caused by impacts such as hitting a kerb or pothole. These can compromise the structural integrity of the tyre, making it unsafe to drive on. It's essential to replace tyres with visible bulges or lumps immediately to prevent accidents​

Camber Wear

Camber wear occurs due to suspension misalignment, causing uneven wear on the inner or outer edges of the tyre. This misalignment often results from worn or damaged suspension components. Regular alignment checks can help prevent camber wear and ensure even tyre wear​

Centre Tread Wear

Centre tread wear is typically caused by overinflation. When tyres are overinflated, the centre of the tread makes more contact with the road than the edges, leading to faster wear in the middle. Maintaining proper tyre pressure according to the manufacturer's recommendations is crucial to avoid this issue​

Cupping Wear

Cupping wear, characterised by dips or scalloped indentations around the tread, is often caused by imbalanced tyres or worn shock absorbers. This irregular wear pattern can affect the vehicle's handling and should be addressed promptly by balancing the tyres and checking the suspension components​

Approved Tyre Brands

For leased vehicles, it's often required to use premium tyre brands to ensure safety and performance. Some of the recommended premium brands include:

Michelin

Pirelli

Goodyear

Bridgestone

While budget tyres can be used temporarily during the lease period, it is mandatory to replace them with premium tyres before returning the vehicle to avoid any penalties​

Steps for Replacing a Tyre

Safety First

Park Safely: Ensure the vehicle is on a flat, stable surface away from traffic.

Use Hazard Lights: Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.

Equipment Needed

Jack

Wheel wrench

Spare tyre

Procedure

Remove the Wheel Cover and Loosen Nuts: Start by removing the wheel cover and loosening the lug nuts slightly while the vehicle is still on the ground.

Use the Jack to Lift the Vehicle: Place the jack under the vehicle's jacking point and lift the car until the tyre is off the ground.

Remove the Wheel and Fit the New Tyre: Completely remove the lug nuts and take off the old tyre. Place the new tyre onto the wheel hub.

Tighten the Nuts in a Star Pattern: Hand-tighten the lug nuts and then use the wrench to tighten them in a Star pattern to ensure even pressure.

Lower the Vehicle and Fully Secure the Nuts: Lower the car back to the ground and then fully tighten the lug nuts​

Conclusion

Regular maintenance of your leased vehicle is essential for ensuring its safety, performance, and compliance with legal standards. By keeping up with routine servicing and addressing any tyre issues promptly, you can maintain the vehicle's optimal condition and avoid unexpected repair costs. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of the vehicle but also ensures it runs efficiently, which can ultimately save you time and money.

Advantages of a Maintenance Package

Opting for a maintenance package provides several key benefits:

Comprehensive Coverage: These packages cover routine servicing, necessary repairs, and tyre replacements, ensuring your vehicle remains in top condition throughout the lease term.

Financial Predictability: Maintenance packages offer peace of mind by spreading the cost of maintenance over the lease period, making budgeting easier and avoiding unexpected expenses.

Convenience: With maintenance packages, you have access to 24/7 roadside assistance and scheduled servicing, reducing the hassle of vehicle upkeep and ensuring professional care for your vehicle.

Importance of Staying on Top of Vehicle Upkeep

Lessees are encouraged to stay proactive with their vehicle maintenance. Regularly checking tyre conditions, adhering to servicing schedules, and addressing any issues immediately can help maintain the vehicle's optimal condition. This not only ensures your safety but also helps in meeting the lease return conditions, thus avoiding additional penalties or charges.

MW Vehicle Contracts: Your Partner in Leasing

MW Vehicle Contracts offers low-cost leasing options for cars, vans, and pick-ups in partnership with Europe's leading financial institutions. Our expertise in sourcing, supplying, and financing vehicles for your business needs is unmatched. Over the years, businesses across the country have benefited from our reliable and efficient service, ensuring that their vehicle needs are met with the highest standards of professionalism and care.

For more information on our leasing options and maintenance packages, visit MW Vehicle Contracts.