Michelin High Grip 315/80s last the distance
Northallerton-based Prestons of Potto is seeing the direct benefits of a move from 295/80 R 22.5 drive axle tyres to 315/80 R 22.5 fitments, after the highest mileage tractor unit in an initial 20-vehicle trial clocked-up 524,137 km before its Michelin XDN2 Grip drive tyres needed replacing.
This exceptional performance – equivalent to more than 390 journeys between Land’s End and John O’Groats – was so impressive that Fleet Engineer Paul Barker couldn’t believe they were still the original tyres.
Barker explains: “I saw the truck in our workshop shortly after it had passed the half a million kilometres barrier. The tyre performance was so remarkable I double checked our records, and the manufacturing date on the sidewalls, to make sure these were the same tyres.
“We’ve been fitting Michelins for years, so we’re used to our tyres lasting the distance, but this was particularly notable. We typically get around 380,000 to 400,000 km from our 295/80 XDN2 Grips – this larger size tyre has delivered a 25 per cent increase in tyre life.”
The 315/80 R 22.5 Michelin XDN2 Grip tyres were specified on 20 new Scania R480 6×2 tractor units which entered service during February and March 2010. The 524,137 km was achieved by all four drive tyres on NJ10 HSN, which has to-date covered the highest mileage of the 20 vehicles, after being double-shifted during its first 18 months on the fleet.
“The 315/80 size tyres aren’t as popular in the UK, but we’ve been fitting them on our heavy haulage vehicles for years as we feel they are more robust and have a bit more engineered into them. This was the first time we’ve trialled the tyres within our regular distribution fleet; to say we’ve been impressed to-date would be an understatement,” adds Barker.
The remaining 19 Scanias in the trial have clocked-up around 300,000 km each, with plenty of tread remaining, and are yet to be regrooved. Early indications suggest they are on target to reach half a million kilometres too.
Following the removal of the tyres at 524,137 km, NJ10 HSN has been fitted with a set of XDN2 Grip Remix tyres, which offer virtually the same performance as that of a new Michelin tyre. Remix tyres are manufactured at Michelin’s factory in Stoke-on-Trent, in a process which sees the old rubber stripped from the casing and a new tread band fitted, together with new sidewall rubber veneer from bead to bead.
Prestons of Potto runs a high-profile fleet of approximately 185 trucks and 500 trailers, with the majority operating at 44 tonnes. The company specifies Michelin tyres as original equipment across its fleet and service provider ATS Euromaster actively regroove tyres to extend life, in line with Michelin’s Four Lives policy.
Prestons of Potto specifies Michelin XDN2 Grip and XDN2 Grip Remix tyres on its drive axles in order to take advantage of the high levels of traction offered by these M+S-rated* tyres. All XDN2 Grip fitments feature a self-regenerating tread pattern which sees patented ‘Raindrop’ sipes open up when the tyres are two-thirds worn, creating similar grip levels to those of a new tyre.