The tyre manufacturer has signed a contract to continue supplying its products to Arriva fleets nationwide Arriva UK Bus is continuing its long-standing working relationship with Michelin, having signed a new five-year contract with the manufacturer’s Connected Solutions division (CXS). The new agreement will see Michelin supply, fit and manage tyres across all seven regions of the public transport operator’s business – incorporating a total fleet size of around 4,000 buses nationwide, including around 1,500 buses in London.
With an increasingly large number of electric buses being deployed across its operations, the Arriva UK Bus fleet will be fitted predominantly with Michelin X InCity EV Z tyres. Designed for electric vehicles but equally suitable for combustion engine powered buses, the manufacturer says the multi position tyres offer excellent safety, longevity and load capacity, while helping operators to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing rolling resistance. Some of the company’s smaller vehicles will utilise tyres from the Michelin X Multi range, and all tyres will be carefully managed through Michelin’s multi-life policy, helping to minimise the total cost of ownership and boosting sustainability.
Tyres will be regrooved once the tread depth reaches between 3 and 4mm, helping to extend each casing’s life, and once the regrooved tyres have worn, they are retreaded at the Michelin Remix plant in Stoke.
The new agreement will also see the installation of Michelin’s QuickScan technology at five Arriva UK Bus depots. This automated vehicle inspection solution delivers data on the health of each tyre, including the tread depth and general wear and tear. The drive over scanner works in all weather conditions and Arriva expects to see a reduction in the time spent on inspections, helping to improve compliance and save money.
Arriva UK Bus is also trialling Michelin Connected Fleet’s tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on 10 vehicles at its Thurmaston depot in Leicester. When combined with the data from the QuickScan technology this offers the business insights which allows it to monitor, manage and proactively anticipate tyre-related maintenance issues. Procurement Category Manager for Arriva UK Bus Stephen Middleton commented: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with industry-leader Michelin to ensure our fleet runs with the highest standards of safety, performance, and sustainability.
“Working with Michelin reflects our commitment to not only providing efficient and reliable transport for our customers but also advancing towards a greener future, such as our increased use of Remix tyres provided by the Michelin Stoke-on-Trent factory. Together, we are meeting the needs of our fleet and our passengers today while moving with the times to ensure a tomorrow which is more environmentally friendly.”
