East Midlands public transport operator Trentbarton has signed a new five-year contract with Michelin, entrusting the tyre giant with managing the tyres for over 400 buses operating across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. The agreement extends to other Wellglade Group businesses, including Notts + Derby, TM Travel, and Kinchbus.
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The deal falls under Michelin’s Effitires programme, which includes supply, tyre management, and fleet inspections through Michelin’s Connected Solutions division. The buses will predominantly run on the MICHELIN X InCity range, with some transitioning to the new 265/70 R19.5 X InCity EV Z fitments, designed for both electric and diesel vehicles.
Matt Evans, Engineering Director at Trentbarton, expressed confidence in Michelin’s products, highlighting their performance and reliability in demanding urban conditions:
“We’ve been working with Michelin for a number of years now, and I’ve been a big advocate of the product for a long time. The sidewall protection is second to none, which helps to keep any disruption to our services and unnecessary costs to an absolute minimum. That’s really the most important thing from an operator point of view.”
The X InCity range is engineered to withstand the wear and tear of urban usage, offering superior sidewall protection and enhanced wet grip, ensuring consistent performance across Trentbarton’s fleet.
Sustainability Through Michelin’s Multi-Life Policy
A cornerstone of the partnership is Michelin’s multi-life policy, which ensures tyres are maximised for performance and sustainability. After the tread depth reaches 3-4mm, the tyres will undergo regrooving to enhance their lifespan in a fuel-efficient state. Once the tyres are worn out, they will be retreaded at Michelin’s Remix plant in Stoke, doubling the lifespan of each casing while reducing natural resource consumption.
This approach not only supports Trentbarton’s operational efficiency but also aligns with environmental goals by lowering waste and carbon emissions.
A Strong and Trusted Partnership
Michelin will continue to supply tyres directly to Trentbarton, with the operator’s in-house team responsible for fitting and replacements. Regular fleet-wide inspections conducted by Michelin technicians will ensure uptime and compliance are maintained.
Evans added:
“Michelin products always stand the test of time and the level of service we get from the team is very good. The Michelins tend to wear evenly as well. In my experience, that can be a real issue for other manufacturers. Overall, we had no reason to look elsewhere.”
