CJ Bird Reports ‘Going the Extra Mile’ with Michelin

Welsh haulage firm CJ Bird Transport regularly clocks up 500,000 km on its Michelin drive axle tyres and 600,000 km on its Michelin trailer tyres thanks to an active programme of tyre husbandry carried out by independent tyre dealer Celtic Tyres. The Llantrisant-based company specifies Michelin as original equipment wherever possible, and the tyres’ longevity means many of the trucks it purchases never need to be fitted with a new replacement tyre during their life on the fleet.

“Over the last few years we have seen some exceptional mileage from Michelin tyres and the XDE2 and XTA2 Energy tyres in particular,” commented CJ Bird Transport managing director Chris Bird. “Being a premium product, they have proven time and time again to offer the best pence per kilometre solution for our fleet.

“Occasionally a new vehicle might be delivered on a competitor’s tyres, which has enabled us to trial a range of different products, but they simply never match the Michelins. We typically run our vehicles for five years before being replaced, and this means in the majority of cases that the tyres will have only just been re-grooved by the time they are sold,” he adds.

The company operates on both UK and European distribution contracts, seven days a week, and says that the proven reliability from its Michelin tyres is a critical factor in determining its fitment policy. “It is reassuring to know that whether a vehicle and trailer are operating in the UK or as far afield as the Canary Islands, I do not have to worry about tyres,” adds Bird. “ It’s very rare for us to have any tyre issues, which enables us to get on and concentrate on the job with total peace of mind.”

Celtic Tyres carry out fortnightly tyre inspections and servicing on the CJ Bird fleet, including pressure checks, turning tyres on the rim and regrooving to ensure its customer’s tyres are always in prime operating condition. This, coupled with the how the vehicles are driven, helps to guard against the risk of tyre-related breakdowns. These routine inspections also support CJ Bird Transport’s own Duty of Care responsibilities and helps to protect its Operators Licence.