Poole harbour improves tyre life by 300 percent with Michelin

(Stoke-on-Trent – May 15, 2008) – Poole Harbour Commissioners has opted for Michelin's X-Terminal T tyres on its fleet of six Terberg tugs, which work on a gruelling schedule loading and unloading trailers onto and off ferries, and pulling roll-trailers from the quay to the stores.

The new 280/75 R 22.5 X-Terminal T is a radial tyre designed specifically for operation on tugs and tractor units used for short-distance trailer movements in ports and freight terminals. It features a unique combination of damage resistant casing and tread rubber which deliver even tread wear, together with exceptional machine and payload protection through reduced shock and vibration, with a unique tread pattern that ensures maximum grip on surfaces ranging from tarmac to block-paving to steel decks encountered on ferries.

“The new Michelin tyre is on target to increase tyre life on the steer axle by over 300 per cent and on the drive axle by 140 per cent,” says Paul Gillingham, Poole Harbour Commissioners Engineering Manager. “We are anticipating that the tyres will give our drivers the comfort and traction they need when pulling the trailers or loading the ferry.”

The trucks are used to transfer a range of products from timber to steel, as well as trailers travelling on the regular Ro-Ro service to and from France, the Channel Islands and Spain. On initial delivery, the Terberg tugs were supplied with tyres more suited for general road use than the arduous port-driving requirements.

Designed, developed and proven for fitment in any axle position, the X-Terminal T tyres incorporate Michelin's advanced radial casing design, and they are highly repairable in the event of damage.

Poole Harbour Commissioners has changed all of the tyres in its fleet of Terberg TT22 4×2 tractor units with the Michelin X-Terminal T tyres, as the original tyres reached their end of life.

Poole Harbour is on the south coast of England and is a major port for bulk cargo imports such as timber, steel bars, girders, gas line pipes, containerised and palletised traffics. Export cargoes include clay, grain, sand and gravel, containers and general cargo to the Channel Islands via a scheduled liner service.