South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is completing a roll out of Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres across its 200-car ‘rapid response’ fleet, reducing the number of tyre changes required by its previous winter/summer tyre swap policy. By fitting CrossClimate+ tyres to the all-Škoda Octavia fleet, the Trust also cuts the cost of using a ‘tyre hotel’ for out-of-season storage.
Covering the counties of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and the former Avon area – an area equivalent to 20 per cent of the UK – the Trust’s fleet operates from 95 ambulance stations and is maintained at 14 workshop sites. All the fleet’s frontline vehicles, including its 369 ambulances, run on Michelin tyres purchased through the Crown Commercial Services framework.
Kevin Bartholomew, Fleet Operations Manager, says: “We only take vehicles off the road for safety inspections or maintenance, and the six-week transition period previously required to swap our summer and winter tyres twice a year was inconvenient. With CrossClimate+, we keep the same tyres on the Škodas year-round, saving time and money.”
Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres offer the benefits of a summer tyre for dry or wet braking, total mileage and energy efficiency. The tyres also offer cold weather and winter performance with improved traction on snow-covered roads, from the first mile to the last – with little difference in performance as the tread wears down.
He adds: “Lives depend on ensuring safe mobility for our fleet, so we simply can’t afford for tyre-related downtime or lack of grip in snow, ice and rain to delay us on a call-out. Fitting CrossClimate+ tyres mean that we can supply expert lifesaving care, whatever the UK’s unpredictable weather throws at us.”
