Pointons teams with Potteries Tyres for Conti tyre management

Leading UK food waste recycling and animal by-product transporter, John Pointon & Sons has put into place a structured tyre management process. The firm will work closely with Staffordshire tyre supplier, Potteries Tyres of Stoke-on-Trent and Continental Tyres to minimise tyre costs and unplanned downtime, while ensuring the tyres meet the varied demands and working conditions of Pointon’s fleet of 68 trucks and 216 trailers.

Potteries Tyres’ fitter, Rob McHenry, who is dedicated to Pointons and who is at their premises almost daily will carry out a tyre inspection regime as a result of the new process. He will inspect road fleet and on-site vehicle tyres on a rotating basis so that all are scrutinised on at least a monthly basis. He carries out repairs, re-grooving and turning on the rim to ensure that optimum tyre life and safety are maintained on a daily basis. 

Each year Pointon & Sons moves over half a million tonnes using a range of equipment from small containers to 55 cubic yard ‘bio secure’ semi-trailers. The demanding nature of the work means that it needs to keep its fleet in tip-top condition whilst at the same time ensuring that its costs remain under tight control. 

Pointon’s transport manager, Mark May, says that he’s very pleased with the performance of Continental tyres and with the service he gets from Potteries Tyres: “The kind of work we do means that we just cannot afford to have downtime resulting from tyre failures. By specifying the correct Continental tyres for each application – steer, drive or trailer – backed up by a first-class service and inspection regime from Potteries Tyres, I can feel confident that our tyres will prove reliable and contribute to keeping our costs down. 

“Detailed reports from Potteries Tyres on a weekly basis let me know exactly where I am on tyres. I know my costs and can also see any trends that might require me to take remedial action. It’s a three way partnership that really works!” 

The company always specifies new tyres, although some re-grooving in line with the ContiLifeCycle™ process is carried out to extend tyre life where required. 

On steer axles the Continental HSR2 is the tyre of choice. This features a deep cut and chip resistant tread compound and a tread design that is resistant to scrub wear and has intermediate blocks for extra traction. The HSR2 also meets Pointon’s need for a tyre that can accommodate the moderate amounts of off-road work that their vehicles are sometimes required to do. 

On drive axles the Continental HDR2 is used. Designed for regional road use, the HDR2 has been engineered to cope with the high torque forces of modern high-powered trucks such as those in the Pointon fleet. It has a wide and open tread design that provides good traction in all road surface conditions. 

Also used are HTR1 and HTR2 trailer tyres. The low weight of the tyres contributes to better fuel economy and their precisely balanced compound and tread geometry ensure a high mileage. Tyre damage is also reduced as the patented groove pattern ejects stones whilst also keeping noise levels low and below the legal requirements. Designed for 19.5 inch wheels, the HTR1 tyres are ideal for use on Pointon’s high volume trailers.