Michelin X Works Tyre Trial Highlights Savings for Shire Aggregates
Shire Aggregates has specified Michelin tyres as original equipment across 12 new MAN 32-tonne 8x4 tippers and adopted a Michelin policy as standard for future tyre purchases after a trial set of Michelin X Works tyres demonstrated it could save more than £26,000 a year in running costs.
Michelin X Works Trial Delivers Success
The results, based on each 8x4 rigid tipper travelling around 75,000 km a year, showed with Michelin, the Catterick-based firm would save £17,892 thanks to an average increase in tyre life from nine to 22 months after switching to a premium Michelin policy.
Shire Aggregates also projects a saving of £7,600 in breakdown costs thanks to a dramatic reduction in punctures and blowouts versus current fleet records – with just one repairable puncture recorded during the two-year trial. The switch to Michelin will also deliver tangible sustainability improvements, with Shire Aggregates fitting significantly fewer new tyres than before – reducing its raw material usage and helping to protect the environment.
Jonathan Simpson, Shire Aggregates’ Managing Director, commented; “We’ve never had a tyre policy in place and have only ever specified the occasional Michelin tyre. This trial showed us the importance of having a robust and reliable tyre, as the savings versus a budget policy are huge, both in the efficiency of our fleet and the overall running costs. It’s really highlighted to us that buying cheaper tyres is a false economy in the long run.”
Following on from the trial results, the 12 new MAN tippers were ordered and specified with Michelin X Works tyres as original equipment. The customer plans to run them through a full Michelin multi-life policy, fitting Michelin Remix tyres as replacements once worn.
Mr Simpson added; “This is a considerable step for us as a business. We have never specified our entire fleet with just one brand of tyre, but the trial set demonstrated excellent traction and grip on wet roads and gave the driver more confidence in the vehicle’s ability to handle rough terrain and winter conditions. – it proved our decision to specify Michelin was the right move.”
Established in 1992, Shire Aggregates supplies and delivers a wide range of bulk aggregate products directly to sites for a range of trade customers operating in Yorkshire and the North East of England.