The wasted resources don’t just stop with the cost of tyres.

Think of the

•          increased fuel burn, increased engine wear as power units work harder

•          increased bearing loads leading to reduced wheel end life

•          suspension components being twisted as loads are not aligned with axle / chassis axis

•          driver fatigue as the driver fights the vehicle to keep it straight down the road

and from a pavement manager’s (Hello Governments!) perspective think about the side forces generated on the road surface.  How does this affect the maintenance budgets of the road managers?

As an example of what I am saying go to the tyre bay now, grab an inflated truck tyre and roll it across the yard.  Yes, it will roll easily as it is not constrained by a wheel end or other tyres attached to the same axle or for that matter vehicle.

Now drag the tyre at an angle (even just a degree or two) to the intended travel, yes by hand. How much more energy is required to drag the tyre to the same point in the yard?  To you, the fleet manager, who is now exhausted, I ask directly, why do you expect your trucks and trailers be any different to your own experience?

Where does the energy required to abrade the tyres in the fashion demonstrated on the photos above come from?  Only one place, the fuel tank of the vehicle.

So, when pressures are understood and brought under control the very next aspect to consider is the alignment of the tyres and wheel ends.  As was experienced when dragging a single tyre across the yard the energy input is substantial affecting all the aforementioned cost centres on the fleet/vehicle.

In my previous article I discussed tyre tracking, how each tyre was tracked to determine the performance outcomes. With hard evidence in a numerical format, educated decisions can be made about the performance of each tyre specification and how each vehicle determines the outcomes.

If one vehicle shows accelerated tyre wear is this the “fault” of the tyre or perhaps it is maybe that the vehicle has issues. So many people are very quick to blame the poor tyre, which is only doing what it is told to do. It has no say in how it performs; a tyre is totally at the mercy of the operator.

By understanding the performance decisions can be made on a sound economic basis rather than the wild guessimation that seems to be the manner in which many transport businesses conduct their tyre operations.  With understanding comes positive economic benefits, enhanced safety and bottom-line profits which is after all the reason that we are in business is it not?

When considering alignment most issues for a multi combination (truck with trailer(s) usually reside with the trailers.  People spend big time having the tractor axles aligned and then wonder why irregular tyre wear is still such an issue. The trailer actually pulls the tractor if it (the trailer) is not properly aligned.  Consider the axles of the entire vehicle as a team. If they are not ALL going in the same direction, then how is the goal (i.e. profit) going to be achieved? Does a number of football players on the field together make a team?  NO! Only when the individuals play as a team are the desired results gained. So why is it different for a multi axle vehicle?

Wheel alignment is an art, it takes a lot of experience to consider what information the tyres (and the driver) are providing.  Making adjustments can sometimes be down to single millimetres, yes it makes that much difference.  Toe and castor settings, scrub and thrust angles all affect not only the tyres but also the wheel end life as well as the fuel burn rates.  Often heard explanations are “that takes too much time or costs too much”.  Well, looking at the tyres in the photos above how much is being “sacrificed” in the name of economics?  Sure, if it was “just” the tyres economic rationalisation could be sound but when fuel burn (consider ~2 – 6%), reduced wheel end life (actual can be 10 – 20%) are added to the list do the economics still come to be the positive outcome thought to be so?

Then consider vehicle safety and driver safety as well as satisfaction.  Driving a truck that requires constant adjustment to the steering to maintain the desired direction is profoundly tiring.  The fact that a fatigued operator makes more errors of judgement is well accepted. So why are transport companies not striving to have their vehicles rolling down the highways and roads rather than being dragged?  Remember dragging the tyre across the yard?  Was that not quickly fatiguing?

The question remains why do so many people still ignore the waste generated from not utilising the second highest operating expense within a transport fleet, the humble tyre?

Are you so tired that tyres don’t count?  Why throw your profits away?

• Adam Gosling and the team at TyreSafe Australia provide guidance and direction for all tyre users. Safety is paramount, so is efficiency and sustainability. Tyres are a globally universal product, the requirement for tyre safety is also a global standard

Leading tyre-retreading machinery maker Marangoni has unveiled a new strategic sustainability strategy for 2025–2027 that reaffirms its social and environmental pledges.

In order to direct and oversee its ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives during the ensuing three years, the tyre retreading expert has voluntarily created a targeted action framework. The framework is in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN's 2030 Agenda. Marangoni claims that the plan was implemented in accordance with globally accepted standards, such as AccountAbility 1000 and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, and that it is meant to function as a monitoring tool to periodically assess the company's progress as well as a guide for action.

The company has identified 17 specific initiatives as part of this strategy. These were established after a materiality study that took into account input from external stakeholders as well as internal input. Each of the 17 initiatives is built around three core pillars, namely supporting the ecological transition, integrating ESG principles into corporate governance and ensuring a safe, stimulating and inclusive work environment. The result is a ‘balanced approach’ reflecting management’s priorities and stakeholder expectations, said the company.

Trelleborg Group has finalised the purchase of National Gummi AB from the Swedish industrial group National through its Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business unit.

Extruded rubber profiles and gaskets for specialised industrial, automotive and construction applications make up the company offering. Mostly in Northern Europe, sales in 2024 were little over SEK 150 million. The production facility is situated in Halmstad, Sweden. The acquisition is in line with Trelleborg's plan to establish dominant positions in desirable markets. This deal excludes National's activities outside of extruded rubber profiles and gaskets, which will continue to be a part of the National group.

Jean-Paul Mindermann, Business Area President, Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, said, “This is an exciting addition to our portfolio. National has specialist capabilities and knowhow which will allow us to broaden our value-adding offering to customers across Europe.”

BKT has expanded its AGRIMAX range of agricultural tyres with the launch of AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, a new steel-belted version. The new tyre is aimed at row crop, vineyard and orchard operations to meet the specific challenges of farming environments where steep terrain, narrow row spacing and muddy conditions require precision and reliability.

The new tyre, which builds on the AGRIMAX SPARGO row crop tyre, has VF (Very High Flexion) technology, which enables it to bear the same load at lower inflation pressure. This helps to improve handling and comfort while reducing soil compaction. Steel belts improve the tyre's resilience to punctures, lessening the possibility of downtime and damage from sharp objects. At faster speeds, it also enhances riding accuracy. The polyester casing and steel belts work together to distribute stress evenly throughout the tyre, preventing uneven wear and extending tread life. By reducing vibration, a revised sidewall enhances riding comfort even further, which is especially useful for precise spraying operations.

The tread pattern of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB is more open and higher than that of its predecessor since it has a deeper tread and smaller lugs. With a D-class speed rating that permits travel at up to 65 kmph, this design seeks to enhance road handling. Smoother transitions between field and road are made possible by the tyre's dual-layer mud ejection mechanism, which rapidly removes debris from the tread.

Dilip Vaidya, Senior President & Director Technology, BKT, said, "In the case of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, we have paid special attention to the casing design by using a strong polyester structure that offers greater strength, flexibility and durability than traditional materials. This choice enables the tyre to handle heavy loads while keeping deformation under control, improving the footprint and thus traction, stability and handling."

TBC Corporation, a joint venture between Michelin and Sumitomo Corporation, has entered into an agreement to divest its Midas franchise portfolio to Mavis Tire Express Service Corp., which operates a tyre retail chain across the United States.

The deal is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, subject to the approval of the competent authorities. This deal is a component of TBC's ongoing reorganisation, which intends to concentrate management resources on its core operations.

According to a statement issued by Michelin, “TBC distributes tyres and provides automotive repair and maintenance services in the US, Mexico and Canada. TBC identifies wholesale, distribution and Big O Tires, tyre retail focused franchise portfolio under TBC, as core businesses, leveraging an industry-leading network and scale, whereas Midas activity mostly relies on retail automotive services. The operation will enable TBC to focus on driving accelerated growth and value in its core businesses. It is also an opportunity for Michelin and Mavis to support and reinforce their commercial agreement.”