LES IIUGHES & Son is running a new £170,000 Renault
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Lander fitted with a Bigfoot central tyre-inflation system as part of a trial sponsored by the Confederation of Forest Industries to highlight the benefits of tyre-pressure control in reducing operator costs and protecting roads.
According to Tony Hughes. director of the Newtown. Powysbased haulier, the vehicle and its drivers are already benefitting from the system that can alter tyre pressures to pre-set values corresponding to the lorry's speed and load. It is like having a second suspension system," Hughes says.
"The lower pressures help protect our equipment, and spreading the weight prevents damage to the local council's roads. It also improves the lifespan of the tyres that suffer hard inner wear because of the road cambers, and has virtually eliminated punctures altogether," he adds.
The trial, which is in its second month, will continue for another six months to gain data over 80,000km of off-road, unclassified and Aand B-roads. Hughes believes the results may ultimately influence the local council's decision to force operators into adopting the system.