Edinburgh operator Lothian has signed a new three-year contract with Michelin for the manufacturer’s Connected Solutions division to supply, fit and manage tyres across the municipal business’s fleet of 730 buses.
It builds on a partnership between the two organisations that spans over three decades. Michelin X InCity EV Z 275/70 R22.5 tyres will mainly be fitted. That product is designed for electric vehicles but is equally suitable for diesel buses.
It is a multi-position casing that Michelin says offers “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. That sees them regrooved once tread depth reaches 3-4mm to extend the casing’s life in its most fuel-efficient state.
Once those regrooved tyres have worn, they are retreaded by Michelin at its Stoke-on-Trent plant, saving resources, doubling casing lifespan, and supporting UK manufacturing. That sits close to Lothian’s own environmental targets by extracting the maximum performance from every tyre.
Under its Superfit policy, Michelin will support Lothian with a team of tyre technicians working across the operator’s five garages.
Those staff are responsible for fitting all Michelin tyres onto rims, as well as conducting detailed fleet-wide tyre inspections to optimise replacement intervals and spot and rectify potential issues before they result in downtime.
As part of the new contract, Michelin’s technical department has delivered detailed training sessions across Lothian depots. Those sessions were focused on identifying and correctly interpreting cuts and abrasions in line with DVSA requirements, helping to keep tyres in service for as long as possible.
Speaking about the new agreement, Lothian Engineering Director Colin Barnes says that confirming it was “an easy decision.”
He continues: “Our decarbonisation strategy has a massive role to play in reaching local and national government climate change targets to safeguard our environment while bringing wide social, health and economic benefits to the city. Working with Michelin helps contribute to us meeting this goal.”
