Page 14 - CTB N10 - 2015-02

COMPANY NEWS
Kirkby Tyres Push Double Coin as Premium Option
Liverpool based tyre wholesaler Kirkby Tyres is one of the leading players in the commercial vehicle tyre market in the UK and Ireland, offering a wide range of brands, not only in the truck and bus market, but also in the off-road sector, where the company has particular expertise. Like most wholesalers, Kirkby Tyres stock
produce radial truck tyres and are no newcomers to the UK market. The company first started to sell its tyres into the UK in 1989, and Kirkby, who have represented them right since the start, have recently reached a major milestone, selling their one millionth Double Coin truck tyre. Double Coin are represented by Kirkby
During the CV Show Kirkby Tyres carried out a competition to win an iPad mini. The lucky winner is pictured here
the key premium brands, but they also offer a number of other brands for which they are major importers. Among the exclusive brands offered are BKT and Alliance in the earthmover market, whilst in the truck and bus sector, Sailun and Longmarch are represented. One Chinese manufacturer, however, has a special relationship with the company, having been represented by Kirkby Tyres for over 25 years. Double Coin were the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to
both in the truck/bus and the off-road sector, acting as a bona- fide marketing department for the Chinese manufacturer – providing more than simply a tyre sales function.
Kirkby are very keen to emphasise that Double Coin is being marketed as a premium option targeted at the quality end of the market, and the brand has made key in-roads into both private and public sector fleets, an example of the latter being Nottingham Council.
The company also emphasises the high stock levels held in the UK, showing that Kirkby has more than just a passing commitment to Double Coin. “It is very rare that we don’t have tyres available,” says purchasing manager, Ben Charlton.
At the recent CV Show Kirkby emphasised some of the main tyres in the Double Coin commercial tyre range. One of the key products is the company’s new RT910 Super Single trailer tyre , which offers label results that compare favourably with those of premium brands (A, B, 73dB). This is a tyre, which is suitable for all-round use and which has
become increasingly popular. Also popular is the RT606 bus and coach tyre, which has gained excellent reviews in a number of markets around the world. In Australia, for example, the tyre has been chosen by the New South Wales Transport Authority for fitment to their bus and coach fleets in preference to premium brands. The tyre features wide
shopping.
Of particular importance to Kirkby Tyres is emphasising the retreadability of Double Coin’s truck tyre range – important at a time when many imported brands are beginning to develop retreading programmes of their own. Kirkby Tyres point out that the casing structure of Double Coin tyres is far superior to that of budget
Double Coin’s new RT 910 Super Single trailer tyre
Kirkby Tyre’s main warehouse in Speke, Liverpool
14 Commercial Tyre Business
shoulders for enhanced durability, traction and even wear. It also has a reinforced sidewall to offer added resistance to damage in urban applications.
Meanwhile, in the growing light truck market Double Coin have introduced the RT600, which is available in both 17.5 and 19.5” fitments. This steer design is a modern adaptation of Double Coin’s popular RT500 design and has been introduced specifically to meet the increasing demand in smaller deliver y trucks due to the increase in internet
brands and can be compared to that of the leading premium brands.
In the USA Double Coin tyres are actually subject to a retreading guarantee scheme whereby the company guarantees that the casings will be fit for retreading, and reimbursing the owner if they are not. Kirkby Tyres say they are in the process of introducing a similar retread guarantee scheme for the UK.