Taxi Maintenance - Tyres

We’ll get things rolling (excuse the pun) with something easy; your tyres. On the inside of your door, near the footwell, there should be a sticker or badge that’ll tell you the correct size and inflation pressure of the tyres that are acceptable for your vehicle. These guidelines should be followed as closely as possible, as they are most likely the manufacturers recommended specifications.

Manufacturers recommend that tyre pressure and the general condition of your tyres should be checked at least once per month. With the heavy usage that taxi tyres experience though, they should be checked more frequently, at least once per week. With tyres in good condition, and inflated properly, your safety and the vehicle’s fuel efficiency can increase dramatically, possibly reducing the amount of wear on the vehicle’s suspension system and generally lowering operating and repair costs.

One recent development in the car world is the use of nitrogen instead of regular compressed air in the tyres. Of course, before making changes to your cab it is best to check your taxi insurance is not invalidated by the particular change. The research and molecular chemistry that supports the nitrogen method comes from the use of this inert gas in aircraft tyres and racing cars. Nitrogen has less of a tendency to expand and contract under extreme conditions, and with a larger molecular structure, doesn't leak through the rubber as readily. Also, nitrogen is a dry gas, meaning that there is no moisture in it, reducing the speed at which the rims and inner workings of the tyre will rust, or corrode. Another thing touted, is the fact that being an inert gas, nitrogen doesn't promote burning, a large reason for its use in aircraft tyres.

Now for a realistic look at filling your tyres with nitrogen -- it costs around £5 to £25 per tyre. An airplane can weigh anywhere from 7 times to 100 times more than the average car, and their tyre usage is very extreme to say the least. The average racing vehicle generally hits speeds of well over 100 miles per hour – nitrogen filled tyres are able to cope with these speeds, where most air filled tyres struggle. However, it’s unlikely that taxi drivers will be matching these speeds or conditions and it’s worth asking whether it’s worth spending the extra money to keep your tyres full nitrogen, instead of air.

In the end, the choice is yours, but maintaining your tyres correctly will increase fuel efficiency, reduce maintenance costs and down time, providing your passengers with a comfortable safe ride -- all of these things combined will increase profits.