Van has Runflat Damaged Tyre

A Busy Plumber, an Overloaded Van, and a Tyre That Had Done Its Job

Yesterday we paid a visit to an old plumber friend of ours, a regular customer and a familiar face over the years. Like many tradesmen around Halifax and Calderdale, he’s always on the go, always busy, and his van is very rarely empty. In fact, if we’re being honest, it’s usually overloaded, full of tools, fittings, pipework, and everything else needed to keep people’s heating and water running.

That’s just the way it is for many self-employed tradesmen round here. Work comes first, the van gets loaded up, and you crack on. The downside, of course, is that tyres on working vans live a hard life.

On this particular day, he’d been unlucky enough to pick up a foreign object in one of his tyres. It’s something we see all too often on Calderdale’s roads, with bits of debris washed down from the hills, building work going on, and rough road surfaces taking their toll.

Inspection Tells the Real Story

Once the van was safely checked over, Ben took a proper look at the tyre. Straight away it was clear this wasn’t going to be a simple puncture repair. The tyre had been run while flat, and that’s always bad news.

When a tyre is driven on without air in it, the internal structure gets damaged. The sidewalls flex far more than they’re designed to, the internal cords weaken, and heat builds up very quickly. Even if the hole itself looks small, the tyre is no longer safe.

In this case, the tyre required replacement – no argument, no shortcuts, just the correct and safe decision.

The Tyre in Question – Built for Work, Not Comfort

The tyre fitted to the van was a 215/65 R15 commercial van tyre, rated as a 6-ply equivalent. This type of tyre is designed to cope with:

Heavy loads
Constant stop-start driving
Kerbs, potholes, and rough surfaces

It’s a very common size on older vans and smaller commercial vehicles, and it suits tradesmen who rely on their vehicle every single day.

With the van often carrying more than it probably should, fitting the correct commercial-rated tyre is absolutely vital. A car tyre simply wouldn’t cope with the weight or punishment.

A Good Customer and a Fair Deal: Van has Runflat Damaged Tyre

Now, this particular customer is well known to us – and also well known for grumbling about prices. Not in a nasty way, just the usual Yorkshire muttering that comes with paying out unexpectedly. We’ve all done it.

Despite the moaning, he’s a good customer, always pays his bills, and has brought work our way over the years. So we did what we always try to do in those situations – we sorted him out with a fair, sensible deal.

We fitted a Maxtrek commercial van tyre in the same 215/65 R15 size, with the correct load rating and ply equivalent. Maxtrek tyres offer solid value for money, especially for working vans that rack up miles and take a hammering day in, day out.

They might not be the flashiest name on the market, but for a busy plumber who needs to keep moving, they do the job well.

Job Done – Grumbling Included: Van has Runflat Damaged Tyre

The new tyre was fitted properly, pressures checked, and everything made safe. He paid for the tyre, thanked us in his own way, and then went off grumbling and muttering as usual – something we’ve come to expect and secretly smile about.

That’s Yorkshire tradesmen for you. Moan about the price, but know deep down it’s been done right.

A Calderdale Reality for Working Vans

This job is a good reminder of how hard-working vans are around Halifax and the surrounding areas. Tradesmen rely on them to earn a living, often driving long days on tough roads, carrying heavy loads, and squeezing into tight spaces.

Tyres are one of the most important safety items on any vehicle, but especially on vans. Running a tyre flat, even for a short distance, can turn a cheap repair into a full replacement very quickly.

That’s why it always pays to:

Check tyres regularly
Act quickly if something doesn’t feel right
Get advice before damage gets worse

Final Thoughts from Pellon Tyres: Van has Runflat Damaged Tyre

This was a straightforward job, handled properly, with the right tyre fitted for the job at hand. No drama, no shortcuts – just honest advice and a fair deal for a loyal customer.

At Pellon Tyres, we understand that working vehicles need to be kept on the road without breaking the bank. We’ll always aim to find the right balance between safety, reliability, and cost – even if the customer drives off shaking his head and having a good Yorkshire moan.

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