Goodyear: how tyres can help tackle fuel costs
Tyre specialist Goodyear has emphasised the potential benefits for fleets of exploring advanced tyre and fleet management solutions, which it says can help to increase uptime, improve data-based decision-making and yield fuel savings amidst a challenging operating context of high fuel prices.
Goodyear cites 2017 research on goods vehicle costs by the Road Haulage Association, which found that tyres were the second lowest area of fleet spend, accounting for just two per cent of costs.
“What it seems many may not be aware of is just how much tyres can impact other expenses,” said the company.
“Goodyear has actually found that choosing the right tyres can have a significant impact on overall operating expenditure. With fuel consumption, specifically, just 1 bar of under-inflation can add 900 litres/year in additional costs per vehicle.
“Goodyear’s Total Mobility offers a suite of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics solutions, tailor-made for every fleet customer. It includes a unique toolbox of smart technologies and predictive solutions, with over 2,000 TruckForce service network locations providing a 24/7 road assistance breakdown service.
“And, of course, it includes innovative, premium tyres. Goodyear’s Fuelmax Endurance range, for example, has been specifically designed with efficiency in mind.”
Goodyear has also launched its Drive Results campaign, addressing the needs and pain points of transportation and logistics companies.
The campaign is built around field data and core savings in terms of fuel efficiency, increasing uptime, managing costs and reducing admin. Goodyear will share these results at this year’s ITT Hub, where its Driving Results Roadshow will demonstrate how Goodyear Total Mobility can help to alleviate these problems.
“Some of the testimonials from Drive Results are quite remarkable, with one describing time savings of up to 15 hours when inspecting a fleet of 50 trucks,” said the company.
“This led to up to £85,000 of potential cost savings per year, with the implementation of smart proactive monitoring solutions such as the Goodyear CheckPoint (Drive-Over-Reader), Goodyear DrivePoint and Goodyear Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
“There are case studies of fleets even letting go of the spare tyres on its trucks, as they can rely on ServiceLine24h getting them back on the road within 120 minutes of a breakdown.”
Creating added value and staying cost-effective isn’t all fleet managers must consider, Goodyear contends; whether improving air quality or lowering CO2 emissions and the fleet’s dependency on fossil fuels, tyres can play a vital role in tackling environmental challenges too.
A smart tyre choice and effective management can reduce a fleet’s carbon footprint in several ways, says the firm.
”The lower the rolling resistance, the lesser the tyre-road friction and the lower both fuel consumption and emissions,” Goodyear continued.
“Low rolling resistance tyres can also further enhance the positive effects of eco-driving. LRRs can also reduce emissions up to four per cent.”
Low tyre pressure leads to increased energy consumption and unnecessary CO2 emissions, the firm added, with underinflation by 20 per cent resulting in a 30 per cent reduction in tyre life.
“Advanced tyre pressure monitoring systems such as Goodyear TPMS warn of any deviations in tyre pressures and temperatures,” it said.
“Combined with telemetry, this data can be monitored constantly via centralised predictive and prescriptive tyre management programs, sending an alert to the driver and fleet manager in case of a potential breakdown risk, increasing uptime up to 90 per cent.”
Checks on wheel geometry and axle alignment are often neglected, adds Goodyear, leading to increased rolling resistance and irregular or increased tyre wear.
“Devices such as the Goodyear CheckPoint (Drive-Over-Reader) can quickly and accurately scan the tyre wear, pressure, load and tread depth, with just a quick scan every time a vehicle enters the depot.”
The more goods that can be carried, the greater the efficiency per vehicle, as getting more goods into fewer vehicles means less fuel used.
“Reducing the tyre radius – with or without reducing the rim diameter – can reduce chassis height, which in turn can increase the load volume in a truck or trailer,” the company said.
“Goodyear, as a mobility partner, is striving to help fleets optimise fleet/operational performance, reduce costs plus downtime and lower carbon emissions. As solutions become more integrated, the value of digitisation and how fleets respond to these challenges hold an even greater role in the future of the industry.”
