Bridgestone is inflating the spirits of van fleet operators after proving the worth of its Duravis Van tyre through a comprehensive academic study.
Bridgestone Goes the Extra Mile With Its Duravis Van Tyre Thanks to University Research Paper
As van fleets explore more ways to balance the books against a challenging economic backdrop, Bridgestone has gone the extra mile to underline the value of its flagship LCV product, courtesy of a specially commissioned university research paper.
Not content with fleets having to take Bridgestone’s word for the tyre, the company commissioned an independent study with Warwick Business School last year. The study underlined the benefits of operating on the Duravis Van tyre, both economically and sustainably. It also proved that lower CO2 emissions were generated as a result.
The Duravis Van, which boasts an EU label Grade B for rolling resistance, was benchmarked against Grade D alternatives, with all comparison data sourced from UK Government sources. The study factored in fuel prices and forecasted future price rises, with DfT and DVLA data referenced to calculate the number of vans currently on UK roads.
It concluded that 95.85 litres of petrol could be saved per year when operating on a Duravis Van tyre compared to a ‘D’ rated alternative, equating to savings of 80.79 litres in diesel and 373.12 kWh per year for EV vans. The research showed that because the tyre offers greater longevity than Grade D alternatives, costs are reduced through fewer annual replacements. For van fleets of five vehicles, overall savings amounted to around £895 per year. The figure for a fleet of 100 vehicles is predicted to be around £17900.
Compared to its predecessor, the Duravis R660, the Bridgestone Duravis Van tyre delivers a 21% improvement in rolling resistance, securing an EU label Grade B for rolling resistance in most sizes. This means greater fuel/energy efficiency, which translates to enhanced fuel savings or extended battery range for businesses.
The Bridgestone Duravis Van tyre is one of the company’s most advanced products across its entire consumer and commercial ranges. It offers huge savings while simultaneously minimising downtime and contributing to a lower cost of ownership.
According to tests carried out by independent TÜV SÜD, the Bridgestone Duravis Van tyre offers best-in-class mileage for extended tyre life and best-in-class dry and wet braking performances. It also achieves the highest EU label rating for wet grip, helping to keep drivers safe on the road, even in challenging wet-weather conditions.
Best-in-Class Tyre Performance Meets Sustainability
Bridgestone’s Consumer Sales Director Brett Emerson said, “The Duravis Van tyre provides so many tangible benefits to van fleets and van drivers, including cost, convenience, and incredible longevity. The Duravis Van tyre is the result of many pioneering technologies, including the innovative and sustainable ENLITEN Technology.”
Emerson continues, “This set of technologies provides best-in-class tyre performance while delivering sustainability benefits thanks to the tyre’s best-in-class mileage and increased fuel/energy efficiency.”
The Bridgestone Duravis Van tyre is ideally suited to both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV), helping to optimise their performance. Specifically for EV drivers, the Bridgestone Duravis Van’s higher wear tolerance counters the increased weight and higher torque of EVs. At the same time, its low rolling resistance saves battery life.
The tyre also comes equipped with a revolutionary Sidewall Protector Rib, ensuring that the product can withstand curbside damage, representing an occupational hazard for van drivers. It complements the Duravis All-Season tyre, Bridgestone’s first-ever all-season tyre for the light truck segment. Engineered to last with a robust and durable construction, the tyre delivers excellent wear performance and reduced downtime periods. Plus, with a best-in-class EU label A-grade for wet grip and 3PMSF certification, the Bridgestone DURAVIS All Season provides safety, peace of mind and convenience in all weather conditions year-round.
Certified by the 3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) and Mud + Snow (M + S) markings, Bridgestone’s DURAVIS All Season is fully winter-ready. The tyre achieves this thanks to a combination of compound design, a V-shaped layout to improve snow mobility and an optimised carcass construction. The DURAVIS All Season’s notable performance in the wet and snow, is also down to Bridgestone’s new nano-selective compound mixing technology, which allows better silica dispersion in Bridgestone’s Nano Pro-tech™ compound.
Such innovations are all part of Bridgestone’s vision to provide customer and social value as a sustainable solutions company. At the heart of this is the Bridgestone E8 Commitment – the broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, customers, and future generations in eight focus areas. Specifically, the Bridgestone Duravis Van and Duravis All Season embodies the following: Energy, Efficiency, Ecology, Ease and Economy.
