1. Commercial vehicle tyre management & safety
Steve Morris & Alistair Brown
British Tyre Manufacturer Association
27 October 2016 ● Park Royal, Warrington

2. Tyre management and Safety
FTA Fleet Engineer Conference
27th October 2016

3. Contents
Market trends Regulatory developments Specifying the right tyres on new vehicles Improving winter mobility in the UK Tyre Management Q & A

4. Market trends Truck: 295/80 R22.5 giving ground to 315/70 R22.5
Replacement: 295/80 has lost 6 points to 31% since 2010
OE: 315/70 R22.5 now represents 77%. Change driven by Euro VI
Trailer - replacement tyre market:
385/65 remains pre-eminent, with 55% share
215/75 R17.5 has gained 7 points to 17% since 2010

5. Regulatory developments
Tyre technical regulations are defined by UNECE in Geneva so limited Brexit impact is expected
Current:
Roll-out of UNECE reg 117 raising minimum performance levels of truck tyres offered on the market from May 2019
Implementation of VECTO fuel efficiency calculator
Future (post 2020):
Expect continuing trend towards lower noise & rolling resistance but not before 2023
Strong case for TPMS but need a robust solution to the interoperability issue

6. VECTO: Vehicle Energy Consumption calculation TOol
Reliable independent fuel consumption forecasts based on the vehicle option specification and intended application
No scope for test manipulation
Reliable comparative data
Better decision-making
Will highlight the importance of matching the tyre to the vehicle application
Legislative proposals are currently under discussion
Target implementation date of 2018 will probably slip
VECTO will provide truck buyers with reliable independent fuel consumption forecasts based on the vehicle option specification and intended application
Urban, regional, long haul, construction, municipal utility
Data from VECTO will highlight the importance of matching the tyre to the vehicle application – accepting the vehicle manufacturer’s default tyre fitment could cost you dear

7. Improving winter mobility in the UK
Getting the most out of “ordinary” tyres
Tread depth: at least 3 – 5 mm
Inflation: optimised for the load carried
Brake balance: not too much on the tractor
Seek tailored expert advice for best performance
Extra performance from tyres with the Alpine symbol
Principally on the drive axle
In extreme conditions with ice and snow

8. Tyre Management
Don’t improvise – have a robust management system to ensure:
Tyres in service are appropriate to the vehicle and operating conditions
Tyres are regularly and closely examined for damage and wear
Mechanisms are in in place to address any identified issues
Staff are properly trained and empowered – tyre technicians, vehicle fitters, drivers

9. Legal minimum tread depth

10. Irregular tread wear
Tyres often wear more on one shoulder than the other
Causes can be road-related or vehicle-related
Turning the tyre on the rim can extend tyre life and provide cost savings
A tyre should be turned on the rim early enough to equalise the wear
A difference greater than 3mm from one shoulder to the other should instigate a turn on rim

11. Wheel alignment Poor alignment will affect: Tyre wear Vehicle handling
Fuel economy

12. Correct inflation Inflation influences
Performance
Safety
Tyre life
Ride and handling
An error in pressure of 20% will reduce tyre life by up to 25%
One tyre underinflated by 25% may contribute to an increase in fuel consumption of 3%
Fix the cause of pressure loss – don’t just re-inflate

13. Training Having competent staff is a statutory requirement
Drivers
Vehicle maintenance staff
Tyre technicians – in-house or external
Training, accreditation and relevant experience
Tyre management isn’t “obvious” – investment in training will pay back handsomely
Courses are available from technical colleges, tyre manufacturers and others

14. Thank you Any questions?