When we consider the examples provided by various leaders around the globe where Covid-19 is considered, the outcomes can be binary; either the decision has worked out well, or the disaster is still arising.

So in considering a truck pulling a trailer, the trailer has to follow the lead of the prime mover, BUT in this case, the trailer bears substantial influence upon the direction the prime mover is travelling.

In order to stay on course, the driver of a truck and trailer combination is usually required to provide continuous inputs to the steering. The question of why such inputs are needed is not easily answered if the trailing units are actually appropriately aligned. More often than not, this is not the case. Trailing unit misalignment is the greatest cause of rash drive, influences tyre wear, increases fuel burn and decreases wheel end life, ergo increasing the operating costs.

Instead of rolling over the pavement, the tyres are actually scuffing and being dragged over the running surface. If the axles of the trailing unit are not ‘aligned’ to the appropriate settings, it will pull the tractor off course. Appropriate settings are usually tighter than the broad specification manufacturers suggest (and truck OEMs don’t really care much about trailers).

One transport company was unpleased with the tyre performance it was achieving. The company was looking for efficiencies in its operations, so it engaged TyreSafe Australia to assist.

After inspecting the scrap tyre heaps, it was determined that there was a good prospect of improving the bottom line by a good number of percentage points.

The process of having all the tyres rolling in exactly the same direction was paramount.

Once inflation pressures were brought under control using real-time tyre monitoring systems (TPMS) broadcasting tyre pressure data back to base, several issues were identified by examining how the tyres reacted during the operations.

Topics such as axle camber, wheel bearing preload are all under the old bogey of ‘wheel alignment’ and so were examined along with the actual axle alignment and wheel (tyre assembly) balance. Adjustments were made, tuning the trailers sometimes fraction by fraction.

The first noticeable effect was comments from the drivers such as “we don’t know we’ve got three trailers, this thing steers like a car”, “I can relax and just monitor the drive; I’m no longer fighting the steering wheel trying to keep the rig on the road” and “at the end of my 12-hour shift, I’m feeling fresh, my arms aren’t sore from constantly working the wheel to keep heading where I want to go not where the truck wanted to go” – giving indications that the project was bearing fruit.

All the tyres from the pilot rig were now evidencing evenly shared workloads; the operating pressures were within the acceptable range for all tyres on each axle group. The end-of-life tyres no longer exhibited strange wear patterns; they all were wearing evenly and smoothly, tread consumption was impressive. The projected tyre life increased by a double-digit number according to change out frequency reduction. The most impressive return was from fuel burn rates.

Being a triple trailer unit, a lead trailer followed by two dolly/trailer tri-axle combinations, the fuel burn rate was always going to be high. Starting from a 1.45 km/litre base, the pressures/alignment project presented figures of 1.85 km/litre, a 27 percent improvement. Considering the annual travel was some 250,000 km, the savings were substantial, to say the least.

Add extended wheel end life, reduction of driver fatigue and the tyre life is extended by 10 percent plus the return on the investment is remarkable.

The alignment of the trailing units directly influences the performance of the entire rig. Having tyres wearing evenly means tyre rotations over different axles became a matter of routine periodic maintenance, not a desperate attempt to salvage a few more millimetres of tread before throwing a large percentage of usable rubber away.

Quite often, operators only care about the tractor. For some pulling client trailers, there is little option. They have to pass the costs on to the client when the contract is signed knowing full well that tyre wear is going to be higher than it should be, fuel burn is going to be higher than it needs to be and the potential for a loss of control event is higher than it needs to be.

Observing tyre pressures in real-time now provides opportunities to examine the underlying reasons why the tyres are reacting the way they are. Agreed road conditions are always a challenge, but all tyres on the rig suffer those consequences one way or the other. It is why the tyres react the way they do is what we are interested in.

Having a software database system that can compare real-time inflation pressures from different axles and positions will reveal insights that are usually just dismissed in the scrapyard as ‘that’s life’. Sorry, I am not going to accept observing tread packages that are not evenly worn across the face and around the circumference as being normal. If the leadership provided does not yield success, then question the status quo, is this true leadership or just profit burning?

Dog tracking is not a unique concept. The head end may be pointing in a different direction to the back end, both ends scuffing the surface to achieve the intended direction of travel. I’m sure many of you have followed a trailer going in a different direction than the tractor.

Why are transport operators continuing to consider tyres as consumables when in fact, they are diminishing assets? This is not semantics or wordplay. When tyres are viewed holistically, the return from the asset group (the truck and trailers) can be improved substantially.

Any transport organisation is in business to generate a profit, which surely is the reason for the business venture, is it not? If the profits will be thrown away because of a lack of direction or leadership, is that not akin to a trailer pulling the tractor offline, what I call dog tracking?

Quality tyres wear according to what they experience. Being pulled offline is the fastest way to burn tread rubber; ignoring inflation pressures is the fastest way to burn the casing’s potential. Despite what is said around the scrapyard, actually maximising the return of your tyre investments is not rocket science, diligence and dedication are required.

Success doesn’t reward a lack of effort. (TT)

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TyreSafe has entered a new partnership with Staffordshire Police, reinforcing a joint commitment to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the county. The collaboration aims to highlight the critical role tyres play in protecting road users by encouraging simple, regular checks of pressure, tread depth and overall condition.

The value of this preventative approach was recently demonstrated during a multi-agency enforcement operation at the DVSA Vehicle Inspection Site in Doxey. Held on 25 August, Operation Doxey involved Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police, DVSA, Datatag, the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit and TyreSafe. Inspectors directed 30 vehicles into the site, covering leisure vehicles, towing vehicles, light commercial vehicles and goods vehicles.

Seven tyre and wheel-related defects, mechanical risks and pressure discrepancies were identified. These included a tyre cut through to the cord, which received an immediate prohibition notice, a tyre running roughly 30 percent below recommended pressure, an overweight light commercial vehicle with a nail embedded in a tyre and all four tyres underinflated, a significant rear axle pressure imbalance, a missing wheel nut and an 11-year-old tyre. Leisure vehicle owners generally showed good tread awareness, though pressure maintenance remained an issue, while commercial vehicles presented several preventable defects.

Staffordshire has one of UK’s statistically safest road networks, yet serious collisions remain a concern, particularly on single carriageways. Rural bends, changing speed limits and limited visibility add risk, while motorcyclists and vulnerable road users are disproportionately affected. Common factors include failing to look properly, misjudging speed or path and driving too fast or carelessly. TyreSafe now works with over 260 organisations, and this partnership encourages Staffordshire motorists to make tyre checks routine.

Stuart Lovatt, Chairman, TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to welcome Staffordshire Police as a TyreSafe partner. While Staffordshire has a strong road safety record, every serious collision has potentially devastating consequences for those involved, their families and their communities. The recent Operation Doxey enforcement activity demonstrates exactly why preventative vehicle maintenance matters. Across just 30 vehicles, inspectors identified a number of serious tyre and wheel defects, including a tyre cut to the cord, significantly incorrect tyre pressures, an embedded nail, a missing wheel nut and a tyre that was 11 years old.

“These findings are a powerful reminder that problems are not always obvious from behind the wheel. Simple checks before a journey can help identify issues before they become a danger on the road. Different roads present different challenges, particularly rural and single carriageway roads where the consequences of losing control or being unable to stop safely can be especially severe. Road safety requires a collective effort, and partnerships such as this are incredibly important. By combining the reach and expertise of Staffordshire Police with TyreSafe’s specialist knowledge and campaigns, we can help more road users understand the simple but crucial role their tyres play in keeping themselves and others safe.”

Police Sergeant Adam Van de Sande, Staffordshire Road Crime – Proactive & Harm Reduction Team, said, “Keeping people safe on Staffordshire’s roads requires everyone to play their part. We are committed to working with partners to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road network. Operation Doxey demonstrated the value of partnership working, with officers, vehicle examiners and road safety specialists able to identify a range of defects and safety issues before those vehicles continued their journeys.

“Vehicle safety is an important part of that responsibility, and tyres are fundamental to a vehicle’s ability to stop, steer and maintain grip. We are pleased to be working with TyreSafe to raise awareness and encourage motorists to make regular tyre checks part of their routine vehicle maintenance. Our message to road users is simple: don’t wait for something to go wrong. Take a few minutes to check your vehicle and make sure it is ready for the road.”

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The AZuR Network has been honoured with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2026 in the C2C/Recycling category for its ‘Retreading: Climate Protection on Wheels’ project. The recognition highlights the network's efforts to expand tyre retreading across Germany and Europe, thereby extending the useful life of tyres. Retreading works by reusing a suitable used tyre casing and applying a fresh tread, keeping a substantial share of the original tyre in circulation.

A life cycle assessment commissioned by AZuR and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT compared retreaded tyres with equivalent new ones. Under the conditions examined, producing a retreaded truck tyre generated roughly 135 kilogrammes less greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction exceeding 60 percent. The process also reuses considerable portions of the existing tyre casing, reinforcing its environmental advantages.

The jury underscored the project's scalability and its relevance to the industry. Official documentation further noted the political integration of the topic as a key strength, with the EU taxonomy confirmation in 2025 representing a tangible milestone. The award places AZuR among well-known companies and innovative projects, including a climate protection cooker initiative in Cameroon, a capsule-free coffee system and a mental health awareness campaign.

Knauf secured first place in the same category with its circular gypsum supply chain, while Schmitz Cargobull led the Mobility and Logistics Solutions category. Other first-place winners included DEKRA, Hansgrohe, Pfleiderer Germany and SBRS. Presented by DISQ with ntv and DUP UNTERNEHMER under Brigitte Zypries' patronage, the 2026 edition saw 433 nominations, with 46 organisations recognised across 19 categories on 17 September in Berlin.

Christina Guth, Network Coordinator, AZuR, said, “This award belongs to our entire network. Retreading only works when many stakeholders collaborate along the value chain – from certified end-of-life tyre recyclers, tyre manufacturers and retreaders to retailers and fleet operators, all the way to academia. The award highlights the potential of using high-quality tyres for longer and keeping their casings in circulation.”

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

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