Hire firm signs to fit Michelin X-Terminal to tractor fleet

Transport hire specialist William Gilder has signed up Michelin to supply its X-Terminal T tyres for the firm’s fleet of terminal tractors; a move it says will reduce operating costs and increase uptime. The dedicated industrial tyre designed for shunting applications will be fitted to the Cheltenham-based company’s vehicles following a trial of Michelin’s tyre begun in August 2010. William Gilder runs a 76-strong transport and machinery hire fleet including the 51 Terberg and MOL tugs on which the X-Terminal will be fitted. The 20-year-old firm also runs its own waste management fleet, which moved to a 100 per cent Michelin policy last year.

Evans says: “These are typically low mileage applications, with significant slow speed manoeuvring, so remould tyres have always been our preference.  We hadn’t imagined what a difference fitting a dedicated industrial tyre could make – the trial has vastly exceeded our expectations.”

The trial saw Michelin tyres fitted to two Terberg YT182 terminal tractors – and compared against the company’s previous non-Michelin remould tyres on a third identical tug. They were exposed to the concrete terrain at one customer’s site in Grays, Essex, and to an extremely abrasive hard surface at a second site in Enfield, Greater London.

“Our remould tyres were typically lasting three to four months in Enfield, and we were suffering an average of six punctures per year per tug. In comparison, the X-Terminal T tyres are still going strong after 10 months, with no signs of damage, and tread depth readings suggest they should be good for another six months,” Evans explains.

“Before the trial kicked off we were expecting to see improved longevity and a reduction in damage levels, given we were fitting a new tyre and not a remould – but the difference is staggering. The projected tyre life has increased significantly and we have not had a single puncture,” says Evans.

Michelin’s X-Terminal T tyres are a dedicated radial fitment for freight terminal tractors with a rubber compound designed for better damage and scrubbing resistance, while an advanced industrial casing maximises reparability and retreadability.

Their solid shoulder structure enables transportation of heavy loads at varying speeds and minimises tread wear. Drivers have reported excellent levels of grip, stability and comfort with the fitment – available as a 280/75 R 22.5 and 310/80 R 22.5.