Massey Wilcox Transport
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National and international haulier Massey Wilcox Transport is a recent convert to Michelin. The Bath based operator is moving its entire fleet over to Michelin rubber, on a pence-per-kilometre (ppk) contract, which kicked off at the start of 2011. The move sees all tyres serviced by ATS Euromaster, which the company says will increase their life and reduce costs.
Massey Wilcox Transport MD Robert Wilcox tells CM:
“Michelin tried many times to get our business, and has now proved to be more competitive than our previous supplier. The quality of Michelin’s tyres will improve fleet performance and give us cost savings on fuel and tyres. We are confident that this is the start of a long relationship with Michelin.” The 170-strong fleet operates from three depots in Avonmouth, Chilcompton and Emborough, and delivers cargo including paper, bottled products and packaging throughout the UK, northern France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Each vehicle covers 120,000km to 250,000km every year.
The fleet, mainly Mercedes-Benz tractor units, will be fitted with Michelin XZE 2+ steer-axle tyres and XDE 2+ drive-axle tyres, with a special rubber compound to minimise tread wear. The drive-axle tyres also feature a directional tread pattern to reduce uneven wear, with sipes built into the tread to improve grip on most road surfaces.
All trailers will be fitted with XTE 3 trailer tyres, which use the same rubber compound, as well as an additional reinforced crown and buttressed shoulders to provide extra protection against damage. Michelin claims the XTE 3 range has the highest casing acceptance rate for remoulding on the market.
The ppk deal means ATS Euromaster will manage the new fitments to ensure maximum longevity from every tyre. Worn tyres will be regrooved for a second life, before being remoulded into Michelin Remix tyres for a third life – a process that delivers similar performance to that of a new tyre. The worn Remix tyres can be regrooved once again to deliver a fourth life.