Page 30 - CTB n5 - 2014/1

PRODUCT NEWS
Checkpoint Highlights the Critical Nature of Wheel Security
Detachment of wheels from vehicles, particularly heavy commercial vehicles, has been a cause of concern for many years. Detached wheels can just come to rest and cause little or no damage. However, in worst cases they can collide with
wheel studs, wheel holes and wheel nuts.
“The product should be used when servicing wheels” said Mike Marczynski Checkpoint MD and inventor of the Checkpoint Original® “The thread tester highlights
other vehicles causing accidents and even fatalities.
Research from *TRL (formerly the Transport & Road Research Laboratory) has indicated that there are 7,500 -11,000 wheel fixing defects ever y year in the UK alone, resulting in 150-400 wheel detachments, 50-134 of which result in damage only accidents, 10-27 injury accidents and between 3-7 fatalities.
TRL’s report also shows that there is a broad range of causes from insufficient tightening and over tightening to incorrect lubrication, but that failed or worn studs are responsible for most incidences of defective wheel security (45% and 23% respectively).
Checkpoint® Safety has championed wheel safety and protection for over 25 years. As a leading global manufacturer of wheel nut indicators and retainers it has recently developed the Checkthread® Tool Kit, designed to allow service staff and engineers to check and monitor the quality and integrity of the actual
problems with stud threads such as stretching, distortion, damage, cracks and corrosion” he continued, “and the Stud Elongation tool (SHET) identifies elongation and damage to wheel stud holes. Finally the Spherical/Conical tool is used to determine the type of stud hole seat on a wheel rim.”
The use of the Checkthread® Kit when servicing wheels therefore helps to raise awareness of the critical nature of wheel security but companies are encouraged to place sound policies and procedures to monitor wheel security and to take action.
“If wheel problems can be located and minimised or eradicated” adds Marczynski, “the result can be less accidents occurring on our roads as well as saving money and time by efficient and effective maintenance on commercial vehicles.”
First A-grade Steer Tyre Part of New Goodyear FUELMAX Line-up
Goodyear has announced that its new FUELMAX fuel efficient truck tyre line is now available and among the range offered is the first steer tyre to be classified EU Tyre Label A-grade in fuel economy. European fleets are now able to benefit from Goodyear’s latest tyre line, which became available in all European countries from the beginning of January 2014. Among the three FUELMAX families - FUELMAX S steer tyres, FUELMAX D drive tyres and FUELMAX T trailer tyres – both the steer and trailer tyre ranges offer tyres that have qualified for A-grades in fuel efficiency according to the EU Tyre Label requirements. The 385/55R22.5 FUELMAX S steer tyre is believed to be the first truck steer tyre on the market to achieve an A-grade in fuel efficiency.
The financial and ecological savings that FUELMAX can offer are considerable. An operator with a fleet of 50 trucks can save over £210,000 each year by using FUELMAX tyres in place of tyres of
Manager, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Europe. “There are other important benefits too, not least high mileage and their versatility in terms of the winter performance of the drive tyres. On top of this, the new line is further proof of our innovative capabilities. We are proud to introduce the first A- graded steer tyre on the market. This is not the first time we have introduced a ‘first A’: we also had the first A-grade trailer tyre back in 2010. That was the Marathon LHT II, predecessor to the FUELMAX T.” The FUELMAX line was announced in September 2013, offering the best rolling resistance of any Goodyear truck tyre for on-road applications, with a balanced overall performance. With up to a 10% improvement in rolling resistance compared to their predecessors they save money on fuel and reduce CO2 emissions; moreover, they also give up to 15% more mileage1 while at the same time provide greater versatility with enhanced traction. The label
30 Commercial Tyre Business
the same size but which have EU Tyre Label D-grade for fuel efficiency. This saving relates to over £4,000 in fuel costs plus a reduction in CO2 emissions of 8,975 kg per truck per year. “Goodyear FUELMAX tyres really will save money thanks to the fuel economy they offer,” said Adam Stanton, Commercial Marketing
grades for FUELMAX tyres confirm their outstanding performance. This is illustrated by A-grades for fuel efficiency on the 385/55R22.5 FUELMAX S steer tyre and 435/50R19.5 FUELMAX T trailer tyre and predominately B-grades on the others.