John Oates Horseboxes fits Wheely-Safe to address major industry safety issue

Midlands-based John Oates Horseboxes is introducing a new retrofit technology on both its new and used vehicles to address the issue of tyre under-inflation, which the company’s Head of Sales James Haddock describes as a “major problem in the market”.

The bespoke horsebox manufacturer has teamed up with official Michelin licensee Wheely-Safe to offer the Michelin Tyre Pressure Management System (TPMS) Light Fleet across all its horseboxes.

Michelin TPMS Light Fleet comprises robust sensors which replace the valve caps and auto-pair with a small solar-powered windscreen display. This in-cab unit provides visual and audible alerts in the event a tyre becomes under-inflated, over-inflated, suffers fast leakage or an increase in air temperature – often the sign of an imminent tyre failure.

“Tyre pressures are critical on any vehicle, but particularly when you are operating at close to maximum gross vehicle weight and carrying livestock,” explains Haddock.

“We know from the number of horseboxes we see in operation that tyres aren’t being checked frequently enough and we wanted to make it easier for our customers to guarantee they are driving on tyres maintained in the safest possible condition.”

Michelin TPMS Light Fleet also incorporates a handy tyre pressure checking device which allows the driver to check all tyre pressures in under a minute before a journey – and without needing to connect a pressure gauge, which is unhygienic and removes air from the tyre.

John Oates Horseboxes manufactures around 100 new vehicles per year and says demand for Michelin TPMS Light Fleet is proving strong, already installing five systems on customer vehicles in the few weeks since introducing it. The company has also fitted the technology to its own delivery van, flatbed vehicle and trailer.

“When we saw the Wheely-Safe technology for the first time, we were sold on it,” he adds. “None of the light commercial vehicle chassis we build on come with TPMS as standard, so we are introducing it to give our customers full confidence in their tyres.”

Advice for horsebox owners published by industry charity Tyresafe, in partnership with The British Horse Society, states that prolonged tyre under-inflation causes excessive flexing, deterioration of the casing and rapid wear of the tread shoulders, as well as increasing fuel consumption. It warns that over-inflation results in an uncomfortable ride, a reduced area of contact with the road, accelerated wear in the centre of the tread and makes a tyre more susceptible to impact damage. It also stresses that correct pressures are vital for maximum safety, braking, grip and extended tyre life.

John Oates Horseboxes was founded more than 30 years ago and designs and builds some of the finest horseboxes in the UK, specialising in the 3.5, 4.5 and 7.0-tonne markets. All products are manufactured to the highest standards, using quality materials and a wealth of experience to deliver products that provide ultimate safety, comfort and style.