In one sense all tyres are endless because they are round. But now we are witnessing the dawn of a new generation of self-regenerating rubber. You’ve heard of in-wheel motors. These have in-wheel extruders. Therefore, they literally keep regenerating as they go, bringing a whole new meaning to the rubber hitting the road.
A review of the van sector has revealed incredible growth. Over the past decade, the UK has experienced a staggering 35 per cent increase in van traffic, resulting in a record-breaking 57.5 billion vehicle miles travelled by vans in 2022. For context, that’s like circling the globe an astounding 2.3 million times, or once every 15 seconds. Research conducted by Go.Compare Van Insurance shows that the average van owner travels 12,500 miles over the year, emphasising van drivers’ significant role in the country’s transportation network. The study raises questions about the impact this record-breaking mileage has on the condition of the average van.
Grippier sipes and softer rubber compounds mean higher rolling resistance when driving on winter tyres. They wear more quickly than summer tyres too, but anyone who fits these products can maximise tyre mileage by adapting their driving style and treating the tyres with care. Continental offers tips for using winter tyres in the most resource-efficient way possible.
UK and European haulier MDF Transport has clocked nearly 400,000 miles on the Michelin X Multi Energy tyres running on the drive axle of one of its Volvo FH trucks. Reporting this accomplishment, Michelin notes that the specialist transport provider specifies all new vehicles on its tyres, having found them to last “longer, reduce fuel consumption and ultimately be cheaper to run than any other premium fitment on the market.”
Swapping its OE tyres for Enso-branded rubber meant a Mission Motorsport-backed Renault Zoe was able to drive 475.4 miles (764.9 km) on a single charge recently. According to the team, the Enso tyre fitment lead to almost 12 per cent more mileage than a separate Zoe with OE tyres fitted as standard. The successful hypermiling record attempt took place at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire, UK on 10 June 2021.
Marangoni Tread North America reports that an RDG 200 Ringtread Drive retread has been driven for over 500,000 miles. The RDG 200 Ringtread is a closed shoulder drive tread uses particular compounding technology for “extreme mileage”. The RDG 200’s original tread depth is 27/32nds (21.5 mm).
Goodyear has launched the EfficientGrip Performance 2. According to the company, the new tyre can achieve 50 per cent higher mileage than its predecessor and 20 per cent better mileage than Michelin. The claims are based on tests conducted by TÜV SÜD, which also found that the EfficientGrip Performance 2 had the shortest braking distances on wet and dry roads compared to leading competitors.
Mileage is a quality that consumers in North America look at closely when buying replacement tyres, and therefore the following superlative from Goodyear Tire & Rubber is significant. With its new Assurance MaxLife, the tyre maker has “introduced the highest-mileage tyre in its nearly 120-year history.”
“Mileage fraud is a huge problem for the UK and urgent action needs to be taken. We are pleased to see that the government has taken the issue seriously and we have responded to the consultation outlining the implications of this practice and the urgent need to make it illegal”, said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA).
Goodyear has released a new light truck tyre that the company says can offer 10,000km more mileage than before. The successor to the Goodyear Cargo Marathon light truck tyre, Goodyear EfficientGrip Cargo reportedly enhances fleet mileage by up to 10,000km, improves fuel efficiency and offers enhanced grip, especially in wet conditions. 28 sizes will be available by May 2017, covering then 82 per cent of the market.
Trials carried out by the DEKRA Automobile Test Centre in Germany on behalf of Michelin indicates this brand of summer tyre lasts an average of nearly 5,000 miles longer than the average mileage for a group of well-known competitor brands. Andy Fern, head of Fleet at Michelin Tyre plc, notes that this performance advantage is the equivalent of more than three months of additional motoring (based on an average company car mileage of 18,600 miles per annum, as per DfT figures).
On 22 July 2015 Apollo Tyres Apollo Amazer 4G Life, especially for the Indian market. Its unique selling points? The tyre has been developed jointly by the company’s global R&D centres in Chennai, India and the Netherlands and offer customers the promise of 100,000kms of wear and beyond.
One Cape Town driver is reporting an astonishing 103,000 km on a single set of Grabber 4×4 tyres. Lodi van Deventer from Brackenfell, Cape Town, reached this milestone after three years with the General Grabber AW 265/70 R16 tyres fitted on his Toyota Fortuner.
“Most people find it hard to believe that I have covered over 100,000 km on the General Grabbers,” Van Deventer says. “The majority of the driving was on tar in both urban and rural environments, but I also did quite a bit of gravel driving in the Stilbaai area during holidays.”
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