Stoke-on-Trent – September 16, 2015
Fleet Managers from ‘blue light’ operations across the UK have put the first summer tyres with winter capabilities through their paces during a day of intensive tyre testing.
The demanding programme, at the MIRA proving ground in Warwickshire, involved testing the tyres in dry, wet and simulated ice conditions, using a special ceramic-tiled road surface.
Michelin’s new CrossClimate fitments combine summer and winter tyre technologies to offer the same levels of grip, road holding, energy efficiency and durability expected of a Michelin summer tyre, while maintaining winter performance comparable to a Michelin winter tyre.
Jamie McWhir, Michelin’s Customer Engineering Support Manager, told assembled fleet managers that CrossClimate tyres provided a genuine alternative to swapping between summer and winter fitments, and without the compromise of competitor all-season tyres, which he described as “de-tuned winter products”.
Michelin says the new CrossClimate is its most important innovation for a decade, pointing out the tyre’s suitability for the UK’s unpredictable weather.
After testing CrossClimate tyres back-to-back with a premium competitor’s summer tyres on various MIRA handling circuits, John Heussi, Head of Fleet Services at Cheshire Police , said: “The difference in grip between CrossClimate tyres and the competitor’s summer tyres was much greater than I thought it would be; the CrossClimate’s ability to perform in all weather conditions is of huge interest.
“Combining year-round mobility in a product where the total cost of ownership is good, and tyre life is increased, is the perfect position for us.”
Scott Roberts, Fleet Manager at Scottish Fire and Rescue Service , commented: “Performing back-to-back comparisons between the CrossClimate tyres and a competitor’s summer fitments was eye-opening.
“Fitting CrossClimate tyres could enable us to run a single tread pattern on our light vehicles year-round, meaning an end to swapping between summer and winter tyres. In some of our far reaching rural locations we have to bring vehicles in from up to 100 miles away just to change the tyres. There would be a significant cost saving in the logistics alone, and that’s before we look at the CrossClimate’s increased longevity.”
Glynn Richardson, Fleet Manager at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service , explained: “When our drivers get into a car they expect safety, reliability and performance from their tyres, and the CrossClimate tyres demonstrated delivered this over a range of surfaces and conditions. In the dry, there was no discernible reduction in performance to the premium summer tyres, however in wet conditions with reduced grip there was a marked difference with the CrossClimate tyres performing significantly better than the competitor.
“We have struggled to justify dedicated winter tyres because of the storage and cost implications; this tyre eliminates these issues and will be introduced into the fleet.”
Rob Lashley, Fleet Client Manager at Emergency Services Fleet Management, a joint venture supporting Humberside Police and Humberside Fire & Rescue Service, added: “Moving away from having both summer and winter tyres presents a great cost-saving opportunity – coupled with less downtime, longer tread life and fewer wheel interventions, as winter tyres aren’t always as robust. On the back of today’s testing I’ll be making a recommendation to our client to take some test sets.”
Steve Rookes, Maintenance Manager at Emergency Services Fleet Management , concluded: “I was absolutely amazed at the performance of the CrossClimate tyres in comparison to both summer and winter tyres through a range of differing road surfaces and conditions. The first thing I’m going to do is to purchase a set for my own car. That’s how impressed I was.”
Michelin hosted the test day due to the large numbers of blue light fleets currently switching between summer and winter tyres, coupled with the need for crews to reach incidents quickly and safely.
CrossClimate tyres were launched internationally at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015 and stand out for their impressive braking performance in the dry, combined with achieving the top ‘A’ rating for wet braking under EU tyre labelling. CrossClimate tyres are approved for winter use even in countries that require special equipment for winter driving, with the tyres carrying Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) certification on the sidewall.
CrossClimate tyres are available in 23 sizes ranging from 15 to 17 inches, covering approximately 70 per cent of cars and car-derived vans sold in Europe. Additional sizes spanning the 15 to 17 inch spectrum, plus new sizes at 14 and 18 inches, are expected in 2016. Michelin is also planning the first SUV product in the CrossClimate range.
For more press information on Michelin CrossClimate tyres visit: http://news.cision.com/michelin-fleet/r/michelin-launches-first-summer-tyre-certified-for-winter-use,c9733210
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About Michelin ( www.michelin.co.uk )
Michelin , the leading tyre company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing, distributing and marketing tyres for every type of vehicle. It also offers innovative business support services, digital mobility services and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 112,300 employees and operates 68 production plants in 17 countries. The Group also has a Technology Centre, responsible for research and development, with operations in Europe, North America and Asia. ( www.michelin.com )
For further press information please contact:
David Johnson, Michelin Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 402341 Email: d.johnson@uk.michelin.com
James Keeler or Andy Hemphill, 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 / andy.hemphill@garnettkeeler.com
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