Michelin goes the distance

Eccles-based haulier Olivers Transport has hit a new record-high mileage of 362,689km on a set of Michelin X MultiWay 3D XDE drive tyres in its fleet, and lauds the X MultiWay 3D-series as Michelin’s best regional tyre yet.

The four 295/80 R 22.5 X MultiWay 3D XDE tyres, which had been regrooved, were removed from a DAF 6×2 tractor unit used regularly on a return trip from the company’s Scotland base to Birmingham. “It’s never in the yard, and never travelling empty – and that says something for the extraordinary runout figures,” says Olivers Transport Fleet Engineer Kevin Hawker.

Hawker explains: “The DAF tractor pulls a double-deck curtainsider trailer to Birmingham and back, double-manned, and when we removed the tyre set during routine brake maintenance there was still 3mm usable tread on them, which would have been good for another 5,000-6,000km.

“Those are remarkable numbers for a set of drive tyres, particularly considering that when you leave our Scotland base you have to drive an hour to reach a motorway – so the tyres are dealing with all kinds of roads.”

A family-owned business, Olivers Transport runs a fleet of 30 trucks and 45 trailers, which operate throughout the UK. The haulier has specified Michelin as its preferred tyre brand for more than 25 years.

The company’s previous best runout figure, 300,921km, came from a set of Michelin XDN2 Grip drive tyres, and Hawker says the new record-high figures demonstrate how Michelin tyres’ on-road performance has improved over time.