Quick answer
Choose delivery fleet tyres by vehicle and route: 215/75R17.5 and 235/75R17.5 for light and medium trucks such as Isuzu, Hino and Fuso, 275/70R22.5 for larger distribution trucks, 7.50R16 for tube-type light trucks and 195R15C for kombis and vans. Use regional or urban patterns for town work and mixed-service patterns for rural routes. Standardise sizes and brands across the fleet, track cost per kilometre, and buy through one supplier who can quote every size at once.
Start with what your vehicles run
Walk the yard and record the size on every vehicle, front and rear. Most delivery fleets in Zimbabwe use a handful of sizes:
| Size | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|
| 215/75R17.5 | Light trucks such as Isuzu NPR, Hino 300 and Fuso Canter |
| 235/75R17.5 | Medium delivery trucks |
| 275/70R22.5 | Larger distribution trucks and city delivery rigids |
| 295/80R22.5, 315/80R22.5 | Heavy rigids and horses on regional runs |
| 7.50R16 | Tube-type light trucks and pick-up conversions |
| 195R15C, 195/70R15C | Kombis, panel vans and light commercial vehicles |
The "C" in 195R15C means commercial: the tyre has a stronger casing and higher load rating than a car tyre of the same size. Never fit car tyres to a loaded van or kombi. See our bus and kombi tyres page for passenger transport sizes.
Match the pattern to the route
| Route type | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Town and city delivery | Urban or regional pattern with strong, scuff-resistant sidewalls for kerbs and frequent stops |
| Intercity runs on tar | Highway rib on the steer axle, regional drive pattern for mileage and fuel economy |
| Rural and farm deliveries | Mixed-service pattern with a cut-resistant compound for gravel and dirt roads |
| Mixed fleets | All-position regional tyres that can move between axles |
If some trucks do town work and others go rural, it is worth running two specifications rather than one compromise across the fleet.
Standardise to save money
A fleet that runs ten sizes and six brands is hard to manage. Standardising brings real savings:
- Fewer spares in stock, and a spare that fits more vehicles.
- Better prices, because you buy more of fewer items.
- Cleaner records, so you can compare tyre life fairly.
- Easier rotation between vehicles and axles.
When you replace vehicles, consider tyre sizes as part of the decision. A new truck on the same size as the rest of the fleet is cheaper to run.
Measure cost per kilometre, not price per tyre
The cheapest tyre to buy is not always the cheapest to run. Work out:
Cost per km = tyre price (plus fitting) ÷ kilometres run before replacement
Record the fitting date, odometer reading, position and brand for every tyre, then the reading and reason when it comes off. After a few months you will know which tyres give the lowest cost per kilometre on your routes. Many fleets find that a slightly dearer tyre that runs much further is the better buy.
Daily and weekly checks for drivers
- Before the first trip: look at every tyre for cuts, bulges, stones between duals and low pressure.
- Weekly: check pressures cold with a calibrated gauge and set them for the load.
- Every service: measure tread depth, check wheel nuts and look for uneven wear that points to alignment or suspension faults.
- Report damage early. A small cut repaired today is cheaper than a blow-out tomorrow.
Delivery trucks often run light in the afternoon and heavy in the morning. Set pressures for the heaviest load of the day.
Replace on time
Set a fleet minimum tread depth, and replace earlier on the steer axle, where a failure is most dangerous. Replace any tyre with a bulge, exposed cords or a sidewall cut, and watch the age of tyres on vehicles that do low mileage. Our guide on when to replace commercial truck tyres has the full checklist.
Choosing a fleet tyre supplier
A good supplier should be able to:
- Quote every size in your fleet in one request.
- Keep the sizes you use regularly in stock.
- Deliver to your depot, so trucks are not off the road for a trip to the shop.
- Advise on patterns, pressures and load ratings for your routes.
Fleet supply from Proclassic
Proclassic Tyres supplies transport companies, distributors and logistics operators from our Harare and Mutare branches, with delivery across Zimbabwe. Send us your fleet list: each size, how many tyres per position, your vehicle types and depot location. We will quote the lot in one reply on WhatsApp. See all sizes on our truck tyres page.
Get a price on WhatsApp
Send us these four details and we will reply with stock and today’s price:
- Tyre size, from the sidewall
- Quantity — e.g. 24 (6 trucks x 4)
- Vehicle or equipment, make and model
- Delivery location, or collect in Harare or Mutare
Or call +263 716 194 485 · info@proclassicgroup.com