Demand for cold weather tyres for the forthcoming winter months is already up 80% on last winter, according to tyre firm ATS Euromaster.

The firm expects this will contribute to total cold weather tyre volumes for 2012 to be up 60% on the previous calender year.

Demand is strongest from the fleet sector, according to group sales director Peter Fairlie, because businesses and public sector organisations have experienced the benefits for two winters running.

“Every major fleet customer which asked us to fit cold weather tyres last year is maintaining that commitment this winter – some are even rolling the policy out to additional assets.

“This growth demonstrates that once managers and drivers have experienced the benefits of winter tyres, they don’t want to be without them,” he adds.

Meanwhile, rival company KwikFit Fleet is also urging companies considering switching from standard tyres to place orders as soon as possible, as manufacturer supply is finite with production now ceased for the 2012/2013 season.

Fleet director Peter Lambert added that it has enhanced its winter tyre service to “make it much slicker for drivers to be able to have their tyres swapped at a time and location that is convenient to them”.

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