Fleet managers are being advised not to fit polished or two-tone alloy wheels to new vehicles, as they could lead to increased end-of-contract repair bills, Activa Contracts has warned.
According to firm, car makers are increasingly fitting company car models with the higher-specification wheels to add appeal to the vehicle.
However, Activa Contracts said that damage caused by kerbing and corrosion is more expensive to repair than for rational alloy wheels.
The fleet management company claimed alloy wheels typically cost £40-£45 to repair, but the bill for the new-look wheels can rise to £100 or more.
“It is an avoidable cost for fleets,” said Martin Hughes, remarketing manager at Activa Contracts. “We are recommending that our customers think carefully before specifying cars that are fitted with ‘polished’ or ‘two-tone’ alloy wheels and that they discourage the fitment of these where they are available as optional extras.”
