Page 12 - CTB n2 - 2013/2

NEWS
RMA Appoints Alan Bithell as Co-Director
The Retread Manufacturers Association has announced the appointment of Alan Bithell as Co-Director of the Association. Working alongside current Director David Wilson, Alan will be responsible for Technical Issues, Training and UK Membership. Wilson, who has been Director of the RMA since 2005, will remain as Co-Director and will retain responsibility for Administration, PR & Marketing, Overseas Sales and Used Tyre Issues.
Alan Bithell has over 35 years experience in the tyre industry. After leaving school in 1974, he successfully completed a Technical Apprenticeship with Michelin Tyre Company. He has been involved in all aspects of tyre manufacture including the architecture; drum testing; tyre uniformity, and retreading processes.
Specialising in tyre repair, Alan is currently the chairman of the British Standards steering panel for the tyre repair standard BS AU 159 which will shortly be available for public comment. As an independent business consultant to several blue chip companies Alan networks across many automotive business sectors.
Alan has a long association with the RMA, having been president of the Association in 2001/02. The new appointment will become effective on 1st August 2013.
Goodyear Claims Marathon Range Can Save Fleets over £170,000 Annually
be the most expensive,” comments Adam Stanton, Commercial Marketing Manager, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK. “Thanks to the
quality of the
materials used, as
well as the designs
and technology
employed, Goodyear
Marathon tyres not
only offer a fuel
efficient solution but
also provide high mileage
and the ability to be
regrooved and retreaded, further prolonging their tyre life. For these reasons, we believe that our tyres offer genuine savings to both operators and the
environment in terms of financial savings, reduced fuel use and decreased
emissions.”
There are also important benefits from the Marathon range in terms of the
superior wet braking performance, which means significantly shorter stopping distances on wet roads. The Goodyear Marathon range offers a wide choice of sizes covering all popular applications. Of these tyres, 20% are graded B in fuel efficiency and B, or above, in wet grip or above (EU tyre label grades), and 95%
achieve C in fuel efficiency and C, or above, in wet grip. Operators can calculate the savings they can expect to achieve using the Goodyear fleet calculator, which is available free of charge on www.fleetcalculator.eu.
Saving over £170,000 a year in fuel costs is a substantial amount of money for most long haul truck fleets but this is what Goodyear says a typical 50-truck operator could expect to achieve by fitting the Goodyear Marathon range of tyres.
According to Goodyear, when LHS II + steer tyres, LHD II + drive tyres and LHT II trailer tyres are fitted in place of tyres graded D in fuel efficiency, a fleet of 50 trucks would not only benefit from savings in excess of £170,000 in fuel
costs, representing nearly 145,000 litres less diesel used, but there would also be a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 380 tonnes – having a very significant positive impact on the environment.
The calculations are based on a typical 40 tonne 4x2 tractor unit and tri-axle trailer combination, an annual mileage of 100,000 kms, a fuel consumption of 32.3 l/100km and a diesel price of £1.30 per litre. The calculation also assumes the fitment of
Goodyear Marathon LHS II+ and LHD II+ in size 315/70R22.5 and LHT II in size 385/55R22.5, which have EU label grades relating to fuel efficiency of respectively B, C and A.
“In these cost-conscious times it is very easy to just go for the cheapest option, but that can also
Here they can enter the exact data for their vehicles and compare the results that different tyres will give them.
12 Commercial Tyre Business