Bridgestone TPMS improves fleet uptime and fuel consumption
Bridgestone is rolling out an innovative TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) across Europe in order to provide a more thorough pressure maintenance service to contract fleet customers. With service provision supplied by Truck Point, tyres requiring attention are not only identified but also serviced back to peak condition.
Two main benefits for the fleet are optimal fuel consumption and reduced breakdowns.
Studies show that tyres running at low pressure increase fuel consumption, and therefore CO2 emissions. For example, a tyre with a recommended pressure of 9 bar will use 5% more fuel when running at 7 bar.
“From internal studies we can see that fleets have on average up to 25% of tyres running with pressure at least 10% below recommended levels and up to 5% with pressure at least 20% below” says Neil Purves, Senior Manager, Business Innovation, Commercial Products Division, Bridgestone Europe. “With this ‘average’ pressure condition, fleet fuel consumption would be 0.6% higher than if all tyres were running at recommended pressure levels.”
Tyre breakdowns at the roadside are frequently caused by slow punctures: a nail penetration can sit for days or even weeks before a noticeable pressure loss is detected. Often the leak is not seen at all and the tyre runs to the point where it fails with a rapid pressure loss. In this case not only will the roadside breakdown be more costly than a regular tyre change, but the vehicle will also be stopped until the service can be made and the tyre casing value will be lost. Additionally, a tyre blowout can lead to large tyre parts being thrown onto the road, causing a hazard to other road users.
“The Bridgestone TPMS system can often detect slow leaks due to penetrations, allowing an on-site repair to be made and so avoiding the high cost of a roadside breakdown” says Neil Purves, Bridgestone Europe.
In addition to the benefits of improved fuel consumption and fewer breakdowns, a tyre running at optimal pressure will give a longer wear life and the casing will be in better condition for retreading.
Tests using thousands of Bridgestone TPMS sensors in Europe over the past year clearly show the advantages: “We were immediately interested when we heard about this system,” says Peter Eriksen, Technical Manager at CDK, one of the first customers to use Bridgestone’s TPMS. “Using this very simple device on all our Arla vehicles’ tyres in Denmark, Sweden and the UK saves us 350,000 liters of fuel and 945 tons of CO2 emissions annually. It was an obvious decision to make. Furthermore, we can now detect punctures faster and avoid potential breakdowns on the road.