William Gilder fits special tyres for terminal tractor fleet

The Cheltenham-based company, which operates a 76-strong transport and machinery hire fleet including 51 Terberg and MOL tugs, began trialling the robust Michelin tyres in August 2010.

Ten months on and Melvyn Evans, Operations Manager at William Gilder, is rolling-out the Michelin fitment to all tugs where tyre replacement is the company's own responsibility and not the hire customer's - which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the fleet.

Evans says: "These are typically low mileage applications, with significant slow speed manoeuvring, so remould tyres have always been our preference. We hadn't imagined what a difference fitting a dedicated industrial tyre could make - the trial has vastly exceeded our expectations."

The trial saw Michelin tyres fitted to two Terberg YT182 terminal tractors - and compared against the company's previous non-Michelin remould tyres on a third identical tug. They were exposed to the concrete terrain at one customer's site in Grays, Essex, and to an extremely abrasive hard surface at a second site in Enfield, Greater London.

"Our remould tyres were typically lasting three to four months in Enfield, and we were suffering an average of six punctures per year per tug. In comparison, the X-Terminal T tyres are still going strong after 10 months, with no signs of damage, and tread depth readings suggest they should be good for another six months," Evans explains.

In Grays the tyres are expected to last three years in service - approximately twice the average lifespan of the previous fitment, which the customer highlights was a well-respected remould brand.

"Before the trial kicked off we were expecting to see improved longevity and a reduction in damage levels, given we were fitting a new tyre and not a remould - but the difference is staggering. The projected tyre life has increased significantly and we have not had a single puncture," says Evans.

Michelin's X-Terminal T tyres are a dedicated radial fitment for freight terminal tractors and are designed with a unique rubber compound to give them exceptional resistance against damage and scrubbing, while an advanced industrial casing maximises reparability and retreadability.

Their solid shoulder structure enables transportation of heavy loads at varying speeds and minimises tread wear. Drivers have reported excellent levels of grip, stability and comfort with the fitment - available as a 280/75 R 22.5 and 310/80 R 22.5.

William Gilder's hire fleet comprises trailers, tankers, tractor units and portable storage units. The 20-year-old firm also runs its own waste management fleet, which moved to a 100 per cent Michelin policy last year.