International logistics company 'saving' with Michelin tyre policy

Following its employment of a full Michelin tyre policy for its trailer fleet in July 2011, Manchester based logistics specialist Davies Turner estimates it has saved more than £20,000 as a result of the decrease in tyre failures. The company says that pre-Michelin it dealt with at least one tyre-related breakdown per month from competitor remould tyres. The haulier’s 42 trailers collect hanging garments from North Africa, transporting them through Europe to the UK, with third party hauliers providing the traction. Each tyre failure that occurred overseas cost approximately £900 in call-out charges, tyre replacement and associated downtime.

Since Michelin’s technical manager Dan Lamb recommended a Michelin Four Lives policy across its 385/55R22.5-shod fleet of Krone trailers, Davies Turner has experienced no tyre failures across any of its Michelin-shod trailers. John Lucy, Moroccan services manager at Davies Turner, says: “We noticed in 2011 that the quality of our remould tyres was deteriorating and tyre-related breakdowns were occurring at least once every four weeks, particularly when our fleet was abroad in hotter climates. That simply wasn’t safe or financially viable, and we were keen to resolve the problem promptly.

“We spoke to Michelin and Dan Lamb recommended a Michelin Four Lives policy to us; he wasn’t at all fazed by the demanding nature of our operation, and was keen to let the Michelin products do the talking and prove themselves in service.  The results we have seen since have been fantastic. Whereas our previous tyres couldn’t cope with the heat in Spain and Morocco, Michelin’s new and Remix tyres have lasted time and time again, making our vehicles safer and saving us time and money.”

ATS Euromaster is responsible for servicing and maintaining Davies Turner’s tyres, ensuring they are regrooved when worn to 3mm and then sent to Michelin’s Remix factory in Stoke-on-Trent to be comprehensively remanufactured, before being regrooved again, giving the haulier maximum longevity and performance. 

In addition to improved tyre life and robustness, Davies Turner’s sub-contracted hauliers benefit from reduced fuel consumption thanks to Michelin’s low rolling resistance trailer tyres. Since the beginning of 2013, this has included a move to fitting X Line Energy T fitments, Michelin’s latest low rolling resistance trailer tyre, which replaces the previous generation X Energy SaverGreen XTs.

The X Line Energy T is designed for trailers operating at high average speeds on motorways and major trunk roads, and is Michelin’s first truck tyre rated ‘A’ in rolling resistance under the European tyre labelling programme.

Founded in 1870, Davies Turner’s trailers operate seven days a week, travelling up to 100,000 kilometres a year.