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The tyre companies would no doubt love it if the fleet industry adopted winters across the board, but the non-biased - including those who pay for and operate them - do not believe they're essential fodder. The overriding consensus is that businesses operating vehicles that absolutely have to be out in all weathers - blue-light fleets, service engineers etc - need to be on winter tyres because they will see the benefits.
Shallcross explains: "Companies like BT, with its engineers, and ambulance services - there is categorically a definite benefit to them."
Those who can survive without hitting the road for the occasional day should do without them, though. Shallcross continues: "There is a growing move within the tyre industry of 'unless we all fit winters in October, we're going to end up in a ditch'. If the rubber starts to harden at seven degrees then at what stage does it become noticeable to most drivers? Will it actually make a serious difference to a driver on the M3 in September? The answer is obviously 'no'."
Campbell adds: "We only put winter tyres on our fleet based in the north of Scotland because only then is it worth it. If someone in London is snowed in for four days a year then it's not worth it. [We have them on] Hilux 4x4s, maintenance vans, Vauxhall Combos - that sort of thing. Some pool cars up north would get them but only when they're essential users.
"If [staff] end up working from home for a couple of days then it's not going to do them any harm to sit in the house and catch up with some paperwork. Most company drivers don't need them."
Despite his assertions that it's only essential user fleets that should consider winter tyres, Shallcross surmises that there are reputational issues at stake for delivery companies that need to do their job even when the weather is bad, so specialist rubber can be worthwhile in this case.
"Generally, we're seeing a massive increase in delivery vans prompted by internet sales. For them, it's well worth considering, otherwise you've got a reputational issue. People might not go to work [because of the snow] but they still expect a parcel to be delivered. It makes sense providing your mileage is high enough and you're going to be making good use of the tyres."
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