Michelin XZM Difference ‘Phenomenal’, says Timber Merchant

A timber merchant in the Tayside town of Perth is switching over to a 100 per cent Michelin policy across its Machinery fleet following a trial using XZM industrial tyres fitted on two forklift trucks. The firm, Glenalmond Timber, had previously used solid tyres on its 13 counterbalance forklifts and three side-loader trucks, a solution production director Martin Clelland found unsatisfactory owing to their inability to withstand the wear and tear of moving bulk loads of timber around the yard.

“The solid tyres had a reputation for being budget-savers,” Clelland observed. “But they were so prone to damage that they ended up costing us astronomical amounts in repairs and replacements. We had to change them every three to four months.” Clelland first tried out Michelin’s radial XZM on the recommendation of a technician at his local ATS Euromaster centre. He had them fitted to two of his forklift trucks in 2008 – and two years on, they are reportedly still going strong. On the back of this strong performance, products from Michelin’s XZM range will now be fitted across the fleet as wear dictates.

 Clelland describes the difference between the solid tyres and the XZM as being phenomenal. “They’re tough; they last – and the savings are clearly going to be considerable. I don’t know why we didn’t switch to a 100 per cent Michelin policy before. I suppose we just didn’t realise what a difference it would make.”