- The public transport operator has signed a new three-year contract with the tyre manufacturer.
- Michelin’s multi-life policy, including regrooving and retreading, was a key focus of the deal.
- All new vehicles are specified with Michelin tyres, including 25 recently acquired zero-emission Volvo BZL Electric buses.
A shared vision on sustainability and a strong, established working relationship has seen Lothian commit to a new three-year contract with Michelin.
The agreement continues a partnership that spans more than three decades and will see the manufacturer’s Connected Solutions Division supply, fit and manage the tyres across a fleet of 730 single and double-deck buses.
Colin Barnes, Engineering Director at Lothian, says: “Michelin fully understands the needs of our business so renewing this partnership was a simple decision. Having a fixed cost per mile and the expertise of Michelin on board allows us to manage our entire fleet more effectively.”
Lothian is fitting mainly MICHELIN X InCity EV Z 275/70 R22.5 tyres. Designed for electric vehicles but equally suitable for combustion engine powered buses, the multi position tyres offer excellent safety, longevity and load capacity, while helping operators to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing rolling resistance.
All tyres are managed through a multi-life process, which sees them 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. This process ties in perfectly with Lothian’s own environmental targets by extracting the maximum performance from every tyre on its fleet.
The operator also specifies Michelin tyres as original equipment on all new vehicles. This has recently included 35 zero-emission Volvo BZL Electric buses, which are now in full service.
“Our decarbonisation strategy has a massive role to play in reaching local and national government climate change targets to safeguard our environment while bringing wider social, health and economic benefits for the city. Working in partnership with Michelin helps contribute to us meeting this goal,” adds Colin.
Under the terms of the existing ‘Superfit’ policy, Michelin will support the fleet with a team of its own tyre technicians working in-house across Lothian’s five bus garages. Together, they are responsible for fitting all Michelin tyres onto rims, as well as conducting detailed fleet-wide tyre inspections to optimise replacement intervals and both spot and rectify potential issues before they result in downtime.
As part of the new deal, Michelin’s Technical Department have delivered detailed training sessions across Lothian’s depots – focusing on identifying and correctly interpreting cuts and abrasions, in line with DVSA requirements, helping to keep the tyres in service for as long as possible.
About Lothian
Lothian is the UK’s largest municipal bus company and owned by the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian councils. Its distinctive fleet is a familiar sight on the roads in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, with the public transport operator now operating more than 80 routes and employing over 2,600 staff.
About Michelin
Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world.
Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tyres and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare.
The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide.
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