Sizing up costs and benefits

The first wide-single 495/45 R22.5 drive-axle tyres for European trucks were launched by Michelin and Bridgestone, but uptake by truck operators has been poor. This has been attributed to poor traction in winter weather, reduced tread life and poor availability of replacement tyres at the roadside. Despite this, Goodyear is developing other innovative tyre sizes for trucks, e.g. 355/45 R17.5-inch truck tyres. There has been a high uptake of new low-profile 355/50 R22.5 steer-axle tyres from Goodyear and Bridgestone on mainland Europe. Other new tyre developments include 385/55 steer tyres and a 265/55 R19.5 from Goodyear for the rear bogies of three-axle rigids. The absence of any overall height limit in the UK means there is less incentive for operators to explore the new tyre sizes. Tyre manufacturers are cutting labour costs with much tyre production moving to countries such as Turkey, Poland and Slovenia. Goodyear has launched a new scheme called Mobility, which is an insurance policy for which an operator pays an annual fee instead of call-out charges for roadside tyre breakdown.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Authors:
  • WILCOX, D
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 10-3
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Insurance; Manufactures; Size; Tires; Trucks
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 9014: Dimension; 8034: Europe; 1568: Insurance; 1236: Lorry; 3647: Manufacture; 1381: Tyre; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01032910
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 6 2006 2:25PM