Michelin unveils new tyre at Commercial Vehicles Show 07.03.2012: Caption: Marc Laferriere, Director of Michelin Truck Tyre Marketing unveiled the new X Line Tropic F tyre at Commercial Vehicles Middle East this week

Caption:     Marc Laferriere, Director of Michelin Truck Tyre Marketing unveiled the new X Line Tropic F tyre at Commercial Vehicles Middle East this week

Choosing wrong tyres can cost AED300,000 per 100 vehicles, industry expert tells delegates at Commercial Vehicles Conference

Commercial vehicle fleet managers stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dirhams annually from choosing the wrong tyres for their vehicles, an expert from Michelin told delegates at the Commercial Vehicles Conference today in Dubai.


Marc Laferriere, Director of Michelin Truck Tyre Marketing said fitting incorrect tyres on commercial vehicle fleets affects performance by as much as 30 per cent, resulting in costly maintenance, vehicle downtime and retread bills.


“A 100 truck fleet will spend well above AED1 million per year on tyres, retreads, and maintenance,” said Laferriere. “Choosing the wrong tyre or the wrong maintenance practices can negatively affect the performance by as much as 30 per cent, potentially leaving AED300,000 hanging in the balance of making the right and most informed choice.


“There is even a greater impact on indirect costs such as downtime, productivity and fuel economy. Tyres can account for the majority of a vehicle’s downtime and as much as 30 per cent of its fuel consumption.”


Laferriere was addressing delegates on the second day of the Commercial Vehicles Conference, which is running alongside the Commercial Vehicles Middle East exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre until Thursday (tomorrow).


He said that tyre ranges are increasing and becoming more specialised, meaning fleet managers need to better understand their construction and applications.


Asked why companies fail to choose the right tyres for their fleets, Laferriere said: “Fleet and maintenance managers have to make hundreds of decisions every week, and they must be experts in a multitude of fields related to the efficiency of their fleets.


“It is only through a trusting and professional relationship with suppliers that fleets can be properly advised with respect to the best choices to make.”


The tyre sponsor at Commercial Vehicles Middle East, Michelin also unveiled the new X Line Tropic F, a tyre specifically designed for the commercial vehicles sector that utilises the same technology used in Formula One tyres.


Using new belt technology called ‘FAZ’, which has been used for years on Formula One cars, the X Line Tropic F promises significant improvement in mileage and retreadability according to Laferriere.


“Commercial Vehicles Middle East presents itself as a great opportunity to speak and exchange directly with the key players in the Middle East truck market,” added Laferriere.


“Either on the trade show floor, or during the conference, we should have some great opportunities to better understand the key challenges faced by the trucking community and possibly derive some solutions for the future.”


Alexandria Robinson, Project Manager for Commercial Vehicles Middle East, said: “This is the first time that Michelin has participated at Commercial Vehicles Middle East, and we are delighted that such a major industry player has come on board to officially support the event as the Tyre Sponsor. We look forward to a long term beneficial relationship for many more years ahead.”


Organised by Streamline Marketing Group, Commercial Vehicles Middle East covers all types of heavy and light commercial vehicles, special vehicles, vehicle attachments, accessories, maintenance and repair services.


Now in its third year, the exhibition and conference has firmly established itself as the Middle East's only event dedicated to the commercial vehicles industry, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, commercial partnerships, and market and trend analysis.



- Gareth Wright, Total Communications Dubai  also photo