MICHELIN POLICY DELIVERS “TERRIFIC MILEAGE” FOR KNIGHTS OF OLD

Stoke-on-Trent – September 9, 2013

Logistics specialist Knights of Old is reaping the benefits of fitting Michelin tyres across its fleet after a trial set of 315/80 R 22.5 X MultiWay 3D XZE steer tyres clocked up more than 300,000 km.

Kettering-based Knights of Old, which operates 196 trucks and 222 trailers from eight sites across the UK, fitted a test set of X MultiWay 3D XZE tyres to one of its Scania 6x2 tractor units in August 2011.

After a year of impressive performance, the company decided to switch its entire fleet to Michelin for both its original equipment and replacement needs, with servicing and maintenance of the tyres being carried out by Tyres Northampton.

And a further 12 months on, Knights of Old’s original test tyres have covered more than 300,000 km over two demanding years in service, with 5.5mm of tread still remaining when the vehicle was returned to Scania at the end of its lease. At this stage the tyres had already exceeded the previous fitment’s average mileage by 50,000 km, reaffirming the company’s decision to switch to Michelin.

Group Logistics Director at Knights of Old, Kelvin Gingell, says he couldn’t be happier with the results so far. He explains: “We are a very forward thinking company and are always looking for ways we can improve our service and make our fleet operate more efficiently.

“Since Michelin first approached us about trialling the X MultiWay 3D tyres we’ve seen multiple benefits. This has included terrific mileage performance, topping our previous premium fitment by a significant margin, plus Michelin has also been proactive in working with our local tyre dealer and vehicle suppliers to ensure we get the maximum performance from our rubber.”

All Michelin tyres are designed to offer multiple lives, to ensure they deliver the lowest total cost of ownership. Had the initial Scania remained in service, it is projected its steer tyres would have achieved 355,000 km before needing to be regrooved at 3mm – a process which extends tyre life by up to 25 per cent. Once the regrooved tyres had worn to the legal limit, they would have been sent to Michelin’s Remix factory in Stoke-on-Trent to be comprehensively remanufactured, before being put back into service, and then finally regrooved again, providing exceptional  longevity from each new Michelin casing.

The X MultiWay 3D range is designed for regional and national operators where vehicles are using a mix of local and major trunk roads. Available in 295/80 R 22.5, 315/70 R 22.5 and 315/80 R 22.5 sizes, the range includes steer and drive tyres which have quickly established themselves amongst the top-selling Michelin commercial vehicle fitments throughout Europe.

Knights of Old’s fleet consists predominantly of Scania and Iveco vehicles operating at up to 44 tonnes. Its vehicles service the whole of the UK and Ireland, each travelling approximately 165,000 km a year.

Established in 1865, the company has used Tyres Northampton as its service provider for more than 20 years. As a member of the Michelin Truck Professional network, Tyres Northampton is audited annually to ensure its equipment, training, reporting and customer service standards meet Michelin’s high standards – earning the status as a Michelin Certified Centre.

ends

Michelin (www.michelintransport.com / @MichelinTruckUK)

Michelin, the leading tyre company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing and marketing tyres for every type of vehicle, including aircraft, bicycles/motorcycles, cars, earthmovers, farm equipment and trucks. It also offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in more than 170 countries, has 113,400 employees and operates 69 production plants in 18 different countries. The Group has a Technology Center in charge of research and development with supporting operations in Europe, North America and Asia. (www.michelin.com)

For further press information please contact:

Paul Cordle, Michelin Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 402341      Email: paul-m.cordle@uk.michelin.com

James Keeler, Garnett Keeler PR, Inver House, 37-39 Pound Street,
Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3PG
Tel: +44 (0)20 8647 4467   Fax: +44 (0)20 8544 4711   E-mail: james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com

MICHT/144/13

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