Page 32 - CTB N15 - 2016-03

PRODUCTS
Goodyear Truck Tyres Sets World Record
“All I care about is the uptime of my fleet. A breakdown is every fleet manager’s worst nightmare. Knowing that Bridgestone react so quickly is a big thing for us.” Regular tyre maintenance meetings and an innovative digital reporting system on correct tyre pressures and general tyre life also equate to less breakdown calls when drivers are out on the road, leading to better productivity and ultimately, a more satisfied fleet.
Bridgestone’s fleet manager Neil Collison is also on hand with regular updates on call out times and in-depth information on the life of each and every tyre fitted.
With this in mind, Wright said that the decision to work with Bridgestone – and a PPK agreement in particular – was an obvious one; “It felt like a risk opting for a PPK
premium tyre manufacturer, Wright was of the same opinion; “It comes down to simple maths. A budget tyre would cost 30 per cent less but it will only last half the time of a Bridgestone. The cost of replacing a blow out at 10mm (tread level) is the first thing. The next thing is the driver being stranded at the end of his allocated hours. Another driver is then needed to pick him up in another vehicle to bring him back. Then the initial delivery is late. The costs rise and rise.”
Wright assessed that although premium tyre brands costs around 20% more than budget tyres, premium tyres can be turned on the rim, can be recut and can be retreaded, due to the casing being cured properly. Wright also added; “All of this falls under the umbrella of good tyre husbandry. This is
CommercialTyre
Management
and Fleet Business
Volvo Trucks’ ‘The Iron Knight’ has broken two world speed records for trucks on Goodyear tyres – making them the fastest truck tyres in the world. The
The 315/70R22.5 Goodyear The Iron Knight steer tyres are based on Goodyear Truck Racing tyres, as used by all trucks in the Federation Internationale de
The Volvo Iron Knight setting one of its two world records.
Richard Downton and Greg Ward
records were achieved at a closed-off test track in northern Sweden, with Boije Ovebrink, boasting 30 years of truck and car racing, driving ‘The Iron Knight’. The special tyres developed and built by Goodyear are the result of continuous collaboration and strong OE partnership with Volvo. Goodyear ‘The Iron Knight’ tyres helped the 4.5 tonne, 2,400 horsepower truck achieve an average speed of 169.09 km/h (105 mph) in a time of 21.29 seconds, over 1,000 metres from a standing start. The Iron Knight also beat the record for the 500- metre distance, at 131.29 km/h (81.6 mph) in 13.71 seconds from a standing start. During the record runs, The Iron Knight reached a top speed of 276 km/h (171.5 mph).
l’Automobile (FIA) European Truck Racing Championship. The technology for these unique truck tyres is based on the experience gained in truck racing. The casings are standard latest generation Goodyear truck tyre carcasses, as used every day on European roads.
“With so much power and torque, ensuring that 4.5 tonnes of truck sticks to the track at speeds of up to nearly 280 km/h is a real challenge for the tyres, “ said Laurent Colantonio, Director Tyre Technology Commercial of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The ability to develop tyres to break world speed records proves our prowess in using advanced technology and innovation to produce great tyres.”
deal because there was a worry that the levels of service might not continue as they used to on a pay- as-you-go arrangement. But PPK is totally about service. A driver could sneeze and Bridgestone would know about it.”
And in regards to a choosing a
imperative to the reliability of the fleet and the reliability of the delivery. With budget brands, you don’t get this. I don’t see tyres as being generic black and round products. They are a commodity that we place a high value on.”
Universal Tyres Aces Audit to Become Latest Michelin Certified Centre Dealership
Independent dealership Universal Tyres is the latest recruit to join the ranks of Michelin Certified Centres, after eight of the company’s sites passed the Michelin Auto Professional advocate programme’s stringent audit requirements.
The dealership’s Chelmsford, Colchester, Dartford, Greenwich, Ipswich, Plaistow, Staines and West Thurrock sites were the first selected by Universal Tyres for the audit, earning the right to display the Michelin Certified Centre
signage. Dartford- headquartered Universal Tyres employs 178 members of staff across its 16-site network.
As a Michelin Auto Professional advocate dealership, Universal Tyres will also have access to a dedicated business development fund provided by Michelin. Other advantages include free staff training sessions and a chance to send selected, high-performing staff on dedicated ‘Tyre Academy’ training courses held throughout the year.
CM Downton Extend Partnership with Bridgestone
Gloucester based CM Downton, an independent logistics firm, has extended its 10-year partnership with Bridgestone until 2020. They declared that Bridgestone’s commitment to fleet uptime is reaping rewards – and also believes its decision to change to a pence- per-kilometre (PPK) agreement is already proving to be beneficial. The Bridgestone Partner network assisted more than 35,000 commercial vehicle operators in 2015, with an average time of 62
minutes taken from the moment the first call was made to the point at which roadside assistance arrived. Following the arrival of the roadside assistance, it took an average of 51 minutes to complete each job last year, meaning that each vehicle was up-and-running in an average of less than two hours, from the time the first call was made.
CM Downton’s chief fleet engineer Geoff Wright, who oversees 1,400 trailers and 550 tractor units said:
32 Commercial Tyre Business