Volume 12 / Issue 3 / 2012 - Fleet first
TRUCK
TIRE
NEWS
News and information from Goodyear Dunlop Tires / Volume 12 / Issue 3 / 2012
Driving Innovation
for class A tires
EDITORIAL
Dear Reader,
I have recently been appointed Vice President of Goodyear Dunlop’s Commercial Tire
Business Unit covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and I am very excited to be taking
on the responsibility for commercial vehicle tires at a time when we have more to offer our
customers than ever before.
The IAA Commercial Vehicle Show is the biggest exhibition in the region for the industry and
one of the biggest in the world. There last month we proved our leading position as a tire
manufacturer as you will read in the following pages. The announcement of our AA label grade
tire and Air Maintenance Technology for truck tires showed the world just how far advanced
we are in terms of technology and product development. We also underlined our commitment
to meeting customer needs with the introduction of our new coach tires.
My over ten years’ experience with the company has taught me the importance of operational
excellence and a strong and sustainable performance but above how vital it is to listen to and
respond to customers’ needs and anticipating them as well. This edition of Truck Tire News
provides some strong evidence that we are successfully achieving that goal.
I hope you will find this issue interesting.
Sincerely,
George Rietbergen
Vice President Commercial Tire Business Unit
Goodyear Dunlop EMEA
CONTENTS
Goodyear 1:1 scale LEGO truck fascinates the press at IAA .................................................................................................................... 3
Goodyear’s first AA-grade concept tire ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Goodyear self-inflating technology for commercial tires ............................................................................................................................ 5
World premier for Goodyear coach tires ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Look beyond the label when choosing winter tires ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Goodyear tires boost fuel efficiency for MAN in South Africa ................................................................................................................. 10
UK vehicle logistics providers signing up with Goodyear ........................................................................................................................ 11
2
News and information from Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe
Published by Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations S.A.
Avenue Gordon Smith, 7750 Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg
Editor: Boris Stevanovic, Marketing Director Truck Tires Europe
Phone: +32 (0)2 761 18 43
E-mail: TruckTire_News@goodyear.com
Website: www.fleetfirst.eu
Goodyear 1:1 scale
LEGO truck fascinates
the press at IAA
Over 250 people attend the Goodyear Press Conference at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show
George Rietbergen, Vice President
Com mer cial Tires EMEA, opened the
Goodyear press conference at the IAA
Commercial Vehicle show in Hanover,
Germany, on September 19 in front of
an audience of 250 spectators including
150 journalists. He talked about the
company strategy in the current challenging
environment and highlighted
in particular Goodyear’s dedication to
delivering products and services that
anticipated and met customers’ needs.
a total of 410 hours was invested in its
planning and construction.
After the show the model, which boasts
Goodyear Marathon LHS II+ tires, will be
offered for sale on eBay (www.ebay.de
and http://pages.ebay.de/starsandcharity/).
The eBay auction of the Goodyear truck
will run for 10 days from October 19 to
29, 2012.
All the money raised will be donated
by Goodyear to DocStop, which offers
professional drivers medical care while
they are traveling. DocStop’s aim is to
provide every truck driver in Europe with
quick and easy access to a doctor if
needed.
Popular German entertainer Jürgen
Drews, who is a supporter of Docstop,
signed the LEGO truck on the Goodyear
stand during the press conference and
entertained an enthusiastic audience,
singing some of his most famous songs.
At the official public opening of the
show on September 20, the German
Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, who
also supports the DocStop campaign,
visited the Goodyear stand and signed
the huge model in front of some 50 top
journalists.
George Rietbergen,
VP Commercial Tires EMEA
Henk van Tuyl, Director Tire Technology
Commercial Tires EMEA, introduced
the IAA product highlights; the first
AA-grade truck concept tire, the new
Goodyear Coach range and last but not
least Air Maintenance Technology for
truck tires.
Henk van Tuyl,
Director Tire Technology Commercial Tires EMEA
One of the main attractions at the press
conference was the 1:1 scale LEGO
truck built by Goodyear specially for the
IAA. The LEGO truck, was unique among
the exhibits at the show, measuring 2.5
meters wide, 3.5 meters high, about 2.5
meters long and weighing approximately
740 kilograms. The model was built
using about 250,000 LEGO bricks, and
3
Goodyear’s
first AA-grade
concept tire
The tire - developed to meet the highest fuel efficiency and wet grip standards set out by
the new EU tire labeling scheme - was showcased for the first time at IAA
Goodyear’s first AA-labeled truck
tire will be available on the market
soon. A first concept of the tire was
displayed at the 2012 IAA Commercial
Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany to
illustrate the progress on the AA tire,
which is currently undergoing further
development and testing to ensure it
meets all the ambitious goals set for it
by the Goodyear engineering team.
The development of an AA tire is a
major leap in technology, delivering
tires that get an A in both wet grip
and fuel efficiency as set out by the
European tire label regulation, which
becomes compulsory on November 1 1 .
The European tire label looks similar to
existing energy efficiency labels (such
as on household appliances) with A
being the highest performing tire in its
category and G the least performing 2 .
The label will inform tire buyers of three
key tire performance attributes; fuel
efficiency, wet grip performance and
exterior rolling noise.
The concept tire uses proprietary technol
ogy developed by Goodyear at its
Innovations Center in Luxembourg.
This includes the development of new
compound technology, an improved
tread structure and an adapted manufacturing
technique. The concept tire
shown is in size 385/55R22.5.
Goodyear has decided not to unveil
the actual tread design at this stage.
Instead, the concept tire shows a
creative tread design highlighting the
tire’s label performance by displaying
two label icons: a fuel pump on one side
and a cloud and rain icon on the other
side, accompanied by two A-letters.
“We are proud to announce that
Goodyear will soon launch its first AA
truck tire” said Henk van Tuyl, Director
Tire Technology Commercial Tires
Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The new
tire is a technological breakthrough
that will deliver improved levels of wet
grip performance and fuel efficiency to
Europe’s fleets. To give some concrete
examples, the difference between
a complete set of new A-grade and
F-grade tires could reduce a truck’s
fuel consumption by up to 15%, which
represents around 7000 € per year 3 .
Concerning wet grip, in the case of full
braking, the difference between A-grade
and F-grade tires could be up to 30%
shorter braking distance. This means for
a typical truck driving at 80 km/h up to
25 meters shorter braking distance. 4 ”
1
Tires tested on the requirements set out by European Regulation
1222/2009 and accompanying implementing regulations.
2
Class G will be displayed on the label but will not be used for
truck tires. The lowest class for truck tires will be F.
3
The calculation is the result of tests made by the Goodyear
Innovation Centre Luxembourg in 2012 and is based on the
following assumption: Average fuel consumption of vehicle
32.3 l/100km → 323 l/1,000km → 14.7% potential savings =
47.5l less fuel consumption per 1,000km → fuel price 1.50 €/
litre = 71.25 €/1000km → 100,000km mileage/year = 7.125 €
savings/year.
4
The calculation is based on a typical truck with semi-trailer
operating at 40 tonnes GTW.
A Grade in Fuel Efficiency since 2010
A-grade tires are not new to Goodyear. The Goodyear LHT II trailer tire
boasts an EU label A-class in fuel efficiency in two sizes 5 , and has been
on the market since 2010. Currently, around 50 per cent of Goodyear and
Dunlop truck tires score a C/C or better, which is impressive proof of the
superb performance characteristics of Goodyear premium products.
The Association of the German Rubber Industry describes tires with
C/C and higher as very good and tires with A/C – A/A and C/A – A/A
as extraordinary tires of very high quality.
A
C
4
5
LHT II sizes385/55R22.5 and 435/50R19.5
1222/2009 - C3
70
dB
Goodyear selfinflating
technology
for commercial tires
Goodyear technology can aid fuel savings and CO 2
reduction; potential to improve performance and
eliminate need for external inflation pressure intervention
Over the past year, researchers at The
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have
been working on a new Air Maintenance
Technology application that can aid in
fuel savings and CO 2
reductions while
potentially improving performance and
eliminating need for external inflation
pressure intervention. The commercial
appli cation of Goodyear’s Air Maintenance
Technology made its debut at
the 2012 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show
in Hanover, in September.
Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology
mechanism allows tires to maintain
constant, optimum pressure without the
use of external pumps, electronics or
driver intervention. Proper tire inflation
can result in improved fuel economy,
prolonged tread life and improved tire
performance. Customers should receive
the following key benefits from Air
Maintenance Technology-enabled tires:
Improved Fuel Economy
Proper tire inflation is key in the
commercial market. It is estimated that
for every 0.5 bar (50 kPa) lost in tire
inflation, there is a 1 percent 6 loss in
km per liter. While 1 percent may seem
insignificant, it could cost a truck owner
over 735 € in fuel, based on a vehicle that
has a fuel consumption of 35 l/100 km,
runs 150,000 km a year with a fuel price
of 1.40 € 7 .
Prolonged Tread Life
AMT is expected to play a major role in
prolonging tread life in the commercial
tire market. Tires which are 10 percent
under-inflated decrease tread life by
9-16 percent 8 . By utilizing Goodyear’s
Air Maintenance Technology, commercial
vehicle fleet operators will be able to
realize the full mileage potential of their
tires.
Optimized Performance
Tire-related costs are the single largest
maintenance item for commercial vehicle
fleet operators with nearly 50 percent of
all truck and trailer breakdowns involving
a tire in some way 9 .
Properly inflated tires are also necessary
to keep a vehicle’s handling performance
at optimal levels. Under-inflation means
less evenly distributed pressure on the
road. It also reduces the tread area that
is in direct contact with the road and can
impact the integrity of the tire casing,
which is key to the retreading process.
Commercial trucks pose a different
challenge for AMT, as tires are larger,
have higher inflation pressures, drive
longer distances and carry much heavier
loads. Commercial tires operate at a
higher air pressure, typically 8.5 bar
(850 kPa) for commercial tires vs. 2.5
bar (250 kPa) for consumer tires. This is
a much more challenging performance
requirement for the pump system. The
life of a commercial truck tire is often
extended by retreading. The commercial
truck AMT system is being designed to
perform after the retreading process.
“We believe the Air Maintenance
Technology application for commercial
vehicle tires will not only enhance the
performance of the tire, but will also
provide cost savings to fleet owners and
operators through the extension of tire
tread life and increased fuel economy”
stated Goodyear’s Chief Technical
Officer, Jean-Claude Kihn. “The progress
we continue to make with this technology
is very encouraging. We look forward to
further testing of this concept.”
Engineers at Goodyear’s Innovation
Center in Akron, Ohio, USA are credited
with the development of the commercial
application of this concept and the
supporting technology. Prototype tires
have been produced in Goodyear’s
Topeka manufacturing plant in Kansas,
USA, and rigorous validation testing
has confirmed that the AMT pumping
mechanism works. Next year, an
extensive fleet trial is planned to gather
real-world information from customers.
A $1.5 million grant from The United
States Department of Energy’s Office
(DOE) of Vehicle Technology is helping
speed up research, development and
demonstration of the AMT system for
commercial vehicle tires. A grant from the
Luxembourg government for research and
development will continue to help fund
Goodyear’s efforts in researching and
developing the AMT system for car tires.
6
Goodyear (2003). Section 10: Factors Affecting Truck Fuel
Economy. Radial Truck and Tire Retread Service Manual, pg.
64-81.
7
Kotanides Jr., J. (2012).
8
Statistic according to “The High Cost of Low Tire Pressure”
by Mark S. Kuhar.
9
American Trucking Association, (2008). Tire Pressure Monitoring
and Inflation. Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine.
5
World premier for
Goodyear coach tires
Goodyear survey reveals that coach operators need fuel efficient tires to face
the increasing costs of the road transport industry
Goodyear has launched its first ever
dedicated coach tires in Europe; the
Goodyear all position tire Marathon
Coach and Goodyear Ultra Grip Coach
winter drive tire.
Goodyear’s recently commissioned
survey reveals that 89% of the
interviewed bus and coach fleets
see rising fuel costs as the main key
challenge in the road transport sector.
The survey also showed that cost
per kilometer was the most important
characteristic that operators look for
in coach and bus tires generally, with
64% of participants listing this as top
priority or very important. Second was
fuel efficiency / rolling resistance (62%),
third mileage (58%). Comfort and
wet grip followed with 54% and 48 %
respectively.
The new Goodyear Coach tire ranges
meet the needs of European coach
operators that were revealed by the
survey and offer excellent all round
performance and label grades.
The Marathon Coach is an all position
tire for year-round use. It is characterized
by a unique asymmetric design, which
offers excellent even wear and mileage
with a high comfort level. Uneven tire
wear has been a serious problem for
tires on modern coaches, resulting
in reduced tire life. The asymmetric
design, which Goodyear has developed
specifically for the Marathon Coach tire,
addresses this problem.
The Ultra Grip Coach is a specific winter
drive tire with enhanced snow traction.
This tire will be of particular benefit on
coaches which operate in areas such
as the Nordic Countries and in alpine
regions, where icy roads are common
and sudden snow falls can cause
serious delays. The tread design and
width give it not only excellent grip and
traction in winter conditions but also
low noise levels, which mean enhanced
customer comfort.
The new Goodyear Coach tires feature
a combination of technologies, called
TravelMax. These technologies include
Silefex tread compound, an asymmetric
design and latest carcass designs.
TravelMax is a key element in the allround
performance these tires offer. A
further advantage offered by both tires
is an increased load carrying capacity in
the 295/80R22.5 size resulting in a load
index of 154, which represents 3750 kg.
Key Challenges in the Road Transport Sector
Fuel price increase
89%
Other costs increase
62%
Congestion
55%
Stricter EU
Legislations CO2
reduction
50%
A(""-+B C2,/2,D"+ E&") 5&//+,)* %/'5& 1,2"+
Cost / Km
17%
47%
64%
Rolling Resistance/
Fuel Efficiency
9%
53%
62%
Mileage
4%
54%
58%
Comfort
8%
46%
54%
Wet Grip
6%
42%
48%
6
Top priority
Very important
Marathon Coach
The Marathon Coach has an asymmetric design that plays an important role in
ensuring even wear and high mileage, which are key benefits offered by this tire.
In addition to this, a robust outside shoulder provides a high level of resistance
to irregular wear, such as chamfer and fast shoulder wear. The wide 5-rib pattern
offers extended mileage potential plus excellent ride, handling and comfort.
The latest generation tread compound uses Sileflex technology to enhance
mileage and fuel efficiency. It also increases wet skid performance, which is further
improved by high density Flexomatic blading. Casing protection is enhanced by
stone penetration protectors, which ensure long tire life.
“The new Marathon Coach tires
are impressively good in relation to
cost per kilometer and even wear,”
said Ad Bruintjes, owner of Royal
Coach Travel; a coach fleet based
in Belgium and operating on long
distance journeys. “We tested the
new Marathon Coach tires for one
and a half years on all our coaches.
Their asymmetric design really
makes the difference. Previous
tires we have used mostly wear on
the outer shoulder but the new Marathon coach tires wear evenly,
allowing greater mileage and therefore lower costs. All my drivers agree that tire
noise is extremely low and driving more comfortable than with any other tires we
have used.” Royal Coach Travel is a coach company operating long distance
journeys on behalf of Dutch travel company Solmar Tours.
Ultra Grip Coach
The Ultra Grip Coach is a winter drive tire offering enhanced mileage performance,
superior traction and handling as well as low noise. The wide tread pattern of
the Ultra Grip Coach has decoupled blocks for enhanced mileage potential and
high blade density with semi-open shoulders for increased traction on snowy
and icy roads. The latest generation waffle blades further maintain high handling
performance and regular wear. Groove width and shape, and block decoupling
have been defined by numerical tools to reduce noise while keeping a high level of
traction and stone rejection.
“We were very satisfied with the
results of tests we took part in to
assess the performance of the
new Goodyear Ultra Grip Coach
tires.” said Jos Derkum, Technical
Director of Luxembourg bus and
coach company Sales-Lentz. “The
tests were very successful and we
were particularly impressed by the
traction on winter roads and the
even wear, which means very good
mileage.”
7
Look beyond the
label when choosing
winter tires
EU tire label grades are not relevant to all tires
B
B
72
dB
1222/2009 - C3
Commercial vehicle operators should
look beyond the new EU label grades
when purchasing winter tires. While fuel
efficiency and wet grip, which are shown
on the labels, are among the most important
performance areas for operators of
long haul trucks, they are less relevant in
winter conditions. Grip and traction on
snow and ice together with mileage are
the key priority areas for winter tires but
are not shown on labels. In a recent survey
that Goodyear Dunlop carried out in
the Nordic countries almost all operators
put traction on snow and packed snow
as the two most important performance
criteria for a winter tire 10 .
Tires for use on cold and slippery winter
roads require a different set of performance
criteria than for other conditions.
Here it is grip and traction, particularly
in snowy and icy conditions, which are
most important and are just two of 50 different
criteria that Goodyear Dunlop assesses
when developing commercial vehicle
tires. Mileage is also very relevant to
all types of vehicle operation. Goodyear
Dunlop accordingly prioritizes the performance
areas according to the criteria
most relevant for each type of operation.
“We develop tires to meet customer needs and offer a wide range of
applications, each with different demands that have to be satisfied,”
said Boris Stevanovic, Marketing Director Truck Tires, Goodyear
Dunlop EMEA. “In the final analysis, our customers are looking for the
lowest possible whole-life operating costs with no compromise on
safety and with minimum environmental impact. Our goal is to achieve
this if possible but the way we achieve it varies according to the type
of operation in which the tire will be used.”
8
10
More than 500 commercial vehicle operators in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden took part in the comprehensive Goodyear tire-related survey in which performance-related questions were
an important part. Here winter tire capabilities were overwhelmingly the top priority with between 89% and 95% of operators in Finland, Norway and Sweden placing good winter performance as
the ‘most important’ criteria. In Denmark with its more temperate climate, the figure was nonetheless more than 50%. The top two criteria for winter tires in all countries was traction on packed
snow and traction on snow, with in most cases almost 100% support. Low rolling resistance on the other hand was well down the list in all cases. The survey was realized by GFK on behalf of
Goodyear Dunlop in March and April 2012.
Goodyear Dunlop Performance Criteria
The label criteria only cover three performance
aspects of a tire: fuel efficiency,
wet grip and exterior noise. These vary in
importance according to the type of vehicle
operation. Depending on the position
of the tire and the specific application for
which it was designed, other performance
criteria may be equally or more important
than those on the label. Some label
criteria may be influenced negatively
because a tire has been optimized for a
particular application. Goodyear Dunlop
prioritizes its tire performance attributes
according to the type of operation in
which the tire will be used.
Long haul operations mainly involve the transport of goods with a tractor and trailer
over long distances, mostly on motorways at constant speeds and where there is limited
cornering. Low rolling resistance and wet braking are among the top performance
criteria for both Goodyear Dunlop and the operators of such vehicles, so here the EU
tire label is extremely relevant.
Regional haul and distribution take place over medium to long distances and
involve frequent stop and go traffic. Urban roads mean a constant exposure to lateral
forces and rough, uneven as well as damaged roads are frequently encountered. This
type of operation involves a wide variety of vehicle configurations. Goodyear Dunlop
puts high mileage, good all season capability and a high level of damage resistance as
the top three criteria, followed by wet grip and fuel economy. This means that long tire
life (including retreading) and good all round performance meet the top operator needs
but fuel consumption is still very relevant.
Mixed service and construction vehicles vary in configuration and generally operate
over medium to short distances with up to 10% of distances covered being off
road, involving severe conditions. The ability to drive on soft ground and long tire life
are essential in tires used on vehicles such as tippers and concrete mixers. This is
why off-road traction, retreadability and mileage are most important. Here the Fuel Efficiency
and Noise elements from the label criteria are of much less relevance but Wet
Grip is relevant to these types of vehicles.
Municipal and urban operations involve constant stop and go at low to medium
speeds. Kerbing of the sidewalls and exposure to lateral forces is frequent. In many
cases high torque is involved, especially with hybrid vehicles, and municipal vehicles
experience a wide variety of load conditions. Mileage and damage resistance are top
qualities for municipal tires, together with wet grip and retreadability. Exterior noise
is also important to town and city environments and for passengers in public service
vehicles. In this case only wet grip and exterior noise are the relevant label items.
Winter transport involves the possibility of extreme low grip conditions. Road conditions
often change between wet, dry, snow and ice, and all types of commercial vehicle
can be involved. Traction and grip on snow and ice are the first priority for winter
tire performance: to keep vehicles moving and for safety. Retreadability, wet grip and
mileage are also relevant. Although fuel consumption is important, good winter traction
is of higher importance.
9
Goodyear tires boost
fuel efficiency for
MAN in South Africa
Roadshow demonstrates Goodyear fuel savings
Goodyear’s revolutionary truck tire technol
ogies, which offer proven performance
benefits to fleet owners, are further
boosting the fuel-saving capabilities
of MAN’s impressive new EfficientLine
range of commercial vehicles in South
Africa.
Premium range Goodyear Marathon
LHS ll and LHD ll tires have been selected
by MAN for 100% original fitment on their
EfficientLine TGS trucks for South Africa.
A group of MAN vehicles toured South
Africa during August, demonstrating
fuel savings to operators and promoting
EfficientLine as the ultimate long-haul
solution.
Goodyear RHS ll and RHD ll truck tires
are also fitted to MAN’s other TGS
range of trucks. The tour tested vehicles
against each other to show the enviable
fuel efficiency of EfficientLine.
“Of the countless challenges facing
fleet owners today, one of the toughest
must be the seemingly relentless rise
in fuel costs. Both MAN and Goodyear
worldwide are committed to improving
transport efficiency and supporting the
road freight industry, an indication of
many important synergies between the
two brands,” said Norman Newcombe,
Goodyear’s National Sales Manager
Commercial OE (Original Equipment).
While tires themselves account for just
6.6% of the average total cost of truck
ownership on South-African roads, the
cost of fuel weighs heavily at an average
of more than 40% - and that’s where
Goodyear’s innovative tire technologies
can have the greatest impact.
vehicle’s air compressor when it is not
required.
The Marathon truck tires on MAN TGS
EfficientLine vehicles benefit from
Goodyear’s award-winning FuelMax
Technology. This was developed at
the Goodyear Innovation Centre in
Luxembourg, specifically to achieve
improved fuel efficiency, extended
mileage and reduced braking distances.
The tires are characterized by a dedicated
compound, as well as a specific tread
pattern and carcass structure. In
addition to cost savings, the improved
fuel efficiency and reduction of carbon
dioxide emissions reduce the impact on
the environment.
Bruce Dickson, vice-president and
deputy CEO of MAN Truck and Bus
South Africa, said the tires’ proven
performance further enhanced the fuel
efficient capabilities of the exciting
new EfficientLine solution. He added,
“Goodyear is already a main supplier
for our TGM, CLA and Volkswagen
Constellation range of trucks, so we have
experience with the company’s excellent
products and superb logistics operation.
Goodyear also has a broad footprint in
sub-Saharan Africa. This is important for
us as it means we can sell these trucks
with Marathon tires, and be confident that
our customers will find expert, on-theground
support for their tire requirements
anywhere in the region.”
“It is particularly rewarding when a truck
manufacturer recognizes our products
as being the best available in terms of
fuel consumption. We could not possibly
ask for a better testimonial,” said Henk
van Tuyl, Director Tire Technology
Commercial Tires Goodyear Dunlop
Europe. “We work very closely with
Original Equipment Manufacturers right
across the world in the development of
tires. We offer them solutions to transport
problems and they give us challenges to
help them improve the performance of
their vehicles. In both cases the results
benefit operators, who not only buy those
vehicles but also can benefit from fitting
such tires as aftermarket replacements
for their vehicles.”
10
Reduced aerodynamic drag and
reduced rolling resistance are two key
elements in the EfficientLine concept.
The tires - Goodyear Marathon LHS ll
and LHD ll - offer significantly reduced
rolling resistance, and fuel efficiency
promises to be reduced even further by
EfficientLine’s air pressure management
system, which simply disconnects the
UK vehicle logistics
providers signing up
with Goodyear
Autologic switches to Goodyear’s latest car transporter tire
Autologic, a leading provider of support
services to the automotive industry
specialising in vehicle technical services
and distribution, has signed a five
year contract with Goodyear Dunlop.
Goodyear Dunlop will provide Autologic
with Goodyear tires, including its recently
developed 275/70R22.5 Marathon LHT II
tire, which will be fitted and maintained
by the tire manufacturer’s dedicated
TruckForce network. Autologic will fit
the Goodyear Marathon LHT II tire to
its more than 400 strong fleet of vehicle
transporters. The tire is the latest
generation of trailer tire for long haul
operations and significantly reduces fuel
consumption and CO 2
emissions.
Commenting on the new partnership with
Goodyear Dunlop, Simon Knight, Head
of Operations – Fleet and Planning at
Autologic, said: “Our business is focused
on providing excellent service to our
customers, which means it’s imperative
we operate a robust and reliable fleet.
Goodyear Dunlop signs deal with BP Oil UK
BP Oil UK Limited, which has in the
region of 1300 service stations in the UK,
has signed a deal with Goodyear Dunlop
that will see the leading tire manufacturer
supply, service and maintain BP’s 150
strong tanker fleet.
BP has switched its fleet to Goodyear
taking advantage of Goodyear’s technol
ogical advancements in design and
construction – optimizing performance
in both fuel consumption and mileage.
The company’s strong environmental
and safety credentials - Goodyear
Dunlop holds the global environmental
management standard ISO14001 and
the global health and safety management
standard OHSAS18001 - played a key
role in the contract win, alongside its
comprehensive fleet management service
supported by its TruckForce UK network.
Goodyear Dunlop’s fleet management
The support we will now get through
TruckForce UK helps to cement this
promise to our customers. As a part
of our partnership we have adopted
Goodyear’s FleetOnlineSolutions and
FleetOnlineSolutions Mobile and now
have much greater visibility of our fleet.
Very simply this means we have complete
and instant information when it comes
to monitoring and maintaining each and
every tire – helping us to identify and
prevent problems before they occur.”
According to Knight, achieving optimal
mileage with the Goodyear Marathon
LHT II was also a key decision-making
factor. He continued: “As well as having
a responsibility to our customers, we also
have a responsibility to the environment
and our shareholders. The Goodyear
tire allows us to achieve excellence in
performance as well maximizing our
mileage and fuel efficiency. From both an
environmental and financial perspective,
this is an incredibly important business
goal.”
service includes FleetOnlineSolutions
(FOS) and FleetOnlineSolutions Mobile
(FOSMI).
According to Wayne Park, National
Transport Manager at BP Oil UK, a
winning product and service offer had
to be combined with an exhaustive
approach to health and safety to seal
the contract win. Park said: “We were
particularly impressed with the risk
assessments in place for all aspects of
the TruckForce operation and Goodyear
Dunlop’s continuous improvement
programme.” Park continued: “An
efficient and effective fleet is paramount
to our performance as a business and
so our demands are very high. The
FOS and FOSMI systems provide total
transparency, greatly improving our tire
husbandry and enhancing each vehicle’s
fuel efficiency.”
FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) is
an internet-based tire management
system that links the customer with
Goodyear Dunlop, taking care of all
aspects of contract administration.
Goodyear Dunlop contract
customers can access the system,
which links service providers with
Goodyear Dunlop’s FOS database.
Wherever service is required, the
local TruckForce center can access
the database and is able to see
the customers’ tire policy technical
requirements in the local language.
The system takes care of invoicing
and stock control and ensures that
customers are charged according to
their agreements and are invoiced
accordingly. In-built reporting
systems allow customers to access
the system to monitor their accounts
and view key performance indicators.
FOS also significantly reduces
paperwork.
Fleet Online Solutions Mobile
(FOSMI) is an integrated hand held
solution to manage fleet checking
and all round tire maintenance. As
the system is web based it provides
up to the minute control from all
sites and allows the fleet operator
complete online visibility of all things
tire related.
TruckForce service centers provide
dedicated tire-related support to
commercial vehicles throughout
Europe. These service providers are
strategically located to cover the
main European transport routes.
The TruckForce service network
comprises approximately 2000
locations in 28 countries, each
equipped with the trained staff and
specialist equipment necessary to
competently and efficiently undertake
any tire-related task.
11
Efficient. Durable. Comfortable.
The New Goodyear Coach Line.
The new Goodyear Marathon Coach and UltraGrip Coach
Made to enhance your fleet efficiency * , Goodyear offers you coach tires featuring TravelMax Technology.
Asymmetric design, Silefex tread compound, waffle blades – it all stands for reduced rolling resistance,
improved fuel efficiency, longer lasting performance and low running noise for more comfort.
In addition, it offers you mobility in all weather conditions. Learn more at goodyear.eu/truck
*
Performances compared to Goodyear’s previous recommended fitment for coaches (Marathon LHS II, UltraGrip WTD).
M A D E T O F E E L G O O D.
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