Continental has once again released an overview of the European regulations regarding winter tyre equipment for trucks and buses. It also gives advice relating on who should be informed if you do breakdown.
Despite the fact that the UK was in the middle of lockdown, Michelin Tyre Plc’s ultra-modern retread manufacturing operation resumed production at the end of April. In fact, according to the company, there were only two reasons that the Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent site paused manufacturing at all: because the coronavirus-related closures coincided with a pre-planned maintenance stoppage; and because – again due to Covid-19 – there was trouble securing deliveries of the right raw materials from the continent prior to April (see “Michelin Stoke up-and-running, looking forward to ‘steady market growth’” for Michelin UK factory manager Francois Levert’s view on how things have progressed after reopening). Therefore, Michelin UK’s retread manufacturing operation only actually endured a three-week factory shutdown. The neighbouring UK headquarters opened in mid-July and so now its truck tyre and retreading business is putting the focus on success in the new normal. This began with a communications drive that has seen the manufacturer promote the ecological benefits of retreads. Tyres & Accessories spoke with Michelin Plc managing director Chris Smith in order to find out more.
Goodyear has signed a five-year partnership with Bretts Transport. As part of this deal, Bretts Transport will be supplied with premium tyres from Goodyear Fuelmax Gen-2 range and be supported by TruckForce under the Goodyear Total Mobility offering.
Fraikin signed a three-year truck and trailer tyre supply deal with Prometeon. Prometeon will supply and manager Pirelli and Formula brand tyres for Fraikin’s fleet of 3,100 rigids, tractors and trailers. Fraikin is no stranger to Pirelli and Formula tyres, having fitted them between 2006 and 2017. Fraikin has also previously worked with Bandvulc and ATS Euromaster.
Following the news that Tructyre ATS is centralising its administration and call handling functions at specialist centre in Gateshead, further details have emerged. Top of the list is that the national specialist in truck tyre maintenance and fleet support is creating 80 new jobs at the Customer Experience Centre in Gateshead.
During the last few months Tyres & Accessories has analysed the tyre choices of the UK’s largest Police fleets. Having begun with an introductory investigation into Police tyre supply as part of the June 2020 magazine, our July edition took a closer look at which tyres the Metropolitan Police fleet chooses. Throughout the series we have found a number of consistent trends. Firstly, despite the tyre supply business being contracted to Goodyear and Michelin (via ATS Euromaster), the Police fleets are actually surprisingly open to competing tyre brands. And secondly, tyre consumption habits vary significantly between Police forces.
Continental Tyres has unveiled a new commercial vehicle steer tyre, designed for high mileage and even wear during both regional and long-haul use – the Conti Hybrid HS3+. The Conti Hybrid HS3+ will be available in the UK from August 2020.
Continental AG has launched the Conti EcoRegional truck tyre range in Germany. According to the company, the new line-up “enables fleet operators to use their vehicles efficiently in regional traffic”. Reduced fuel consumption and increased mileage are said to be benefits. However, Tyres & Accessories understands that the EcoRegional range is not due to be launched in the UK until at least mid-2021.
The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) welcomed the news that 10-year-old truck and bus tyres will be banned. Speaking personally and on behalf of the association, chief executive Stefan Hay said:
Following the announcement that tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales, campaign group Tyred – which led efforts to achieve a ban – has welcomed the news as “a positive step forward”. However, the group also warned of twin tyre fitment configuration loophole.
Fowler Welch has extended its long-running tyre fitment and management contract with Continental Tyres subsidiary and retread specialist Bandvulc. Continental and Bandvulc tyres will be specified across the entire Fowler Welch fleet of 450 Euro 6 trucks and 750 temperature-controlled trailer units for a further three years, continuing the relationship between the companies, who have worked together since 2011.
The UK’s first Highway Heroes have received public recognition and some Goodyear tyres. During April and May, Goodyear invited nominations via LinkedIn for deserving commercial operatives, with one winner chosen each month to receive a brand-new set of premium tyres for their personal vehicle.
As part of the Fleet feature within the June edition of Tyres & Accessories, we investigated the various tyre demands of leading Police fleets. Amongst other things, we found that Kent Police are the most tyre-hungry and that – despite being contracted to basically two manufacturers under the Crown Commercial Service agreement – such fleets are actually surprisingly open to competing tyre manufacturers. With this in mind, and continuing our series analysing Police fleet tyre preferences, this month we take a closer look at Metropolitan Police fleet tyre demand.
Vaculug, the UK’s last remaining largescale independently-owned retreader celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. And while the last edition of our bilingual Retreading Special supplement carried details of the family-focused summer fete-style party the company planned for its team in June, coronavirus and the resultant national lockdown has put paid to that. However, having started in straightened times of the post-war years, during the businesses’ seven decades of trading Vaculug is one of only a few retreaders that can say it has seen – and come through – it all: governmental changes, recessions, global financial crises and more. With all this in mind, you can see why company representatives recently tweeted: “70 years and no virus will stop us going for the next 70 and the next 70 after that!”
Dunlop has launched the SP247 trailer tyre, which the company says offers “extended all-weather performance, high mileage and low cost per kilometre”. The SP247 replaces the Dunlop SP246 range.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
Continental
Michelin
Bretts Transport; Goodyear
Prometeon
Tructyre ATS
West MidlanSer Amantio di Nicolao; flickr
Continental
Continental
Continental
City First; Goodyear
Photo: Dom J; Pexels
Vaculug
Goodyear