Michelin tyre deal boosts Hawkins fleet

The domestic and international haulage specialist has signed a three-year deal via service provider Tructyre for the exclusive supply of Michelin products, predominantly from the MICHELIN X Multi range, for its 90-strong HGV fleet and 165 trailers.

Paul Hawkins, operations director at Hawkins Logistics, said: “We had our own in-house tyre fitter, but it just became too big a job as we’ve grown to have multiple locations as well as vehicles at customer sites, so we decided it was best to bring in expert external support.

“We’ve always fitted premium tyres since we started the business in 2010 and Michelin has always been a favourite. Compliance is very important to us and at any one time, we’ll have 15 to 20 trucks in mainland Europe, so we need to minimise roadside failures away from home. We’ve seen a massive improvement since signing the deal.”

The company’s Volvo tractor units are fitted with 315/70 R22.5, 315/80 R22.5 and 385/55 R22.5 tyres, with its trailers using 385/65 R22.5 size fitments. Having been a long-term Michelin advocate, the firm has previously put the product to the test and found its vehicles often exceed 300,000km safely on the manufacturer’s drive-axle tyres, with no failures.

Michelin’s multi-life policy reduces total cost of ownership. Tyres are regrooved once the tread depth reaches 3-4mm, helping to extend each casing’s life in its most fuel-efficient state. Once the regrooved tyres have worn, they are retreaded at the Michelin Remix plant in Stoke – a process that saves natural resources, doubles the Michelin casing lifespan and supports UK manufacturing. The Remix tyres can then be regrooved.

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