The UK road transport industry is served by many technology companies and manufacturers that provide tyre and wheel related products, to help operators maximise the efficiency and safety of their fleets.
For example, recycling and reprocessing business Timberpak has been fitting Wheely-Safe in-motion wheel loss detection system to its vehicles, which combines brake and hub temperature monitoring with an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Operating from recycling sites including Washington, near Sunderland, as well as Leeds, St Albans and Bellshill, Timberpak’s fleet of tractor units, trailers and hookloader rigids often work on rough terrain, collecting wood and returning it to its processing sites to recycle into chipboard for sister company EGGER UK.
Wheely-Safe’s external TPMS sensors, which auto-pair with an in-cab solar receiver, have replaced the standard valve caps.
These are fitted alongside a pair of wheel loss sensors and brackets on each wheel which transmit an in-motion alert to the receiver in the cab, should the wheel nuts start to loosen. The same sensor also monitors heat and can quickly identify a temperature abnormality from the brakes or hub.
Gordon Argo, Transport and Operations Manager at Timberpak, said: “It is the only technology I’ve come across that offers the complete package, in terms of alerting you to any issues with the wheel nuts, the tyre pressures and the temperature in the hub. It’s very easy to use too.
“It’s a line of work susceptible to tyre punctures and damage. A key selling point for us though was the wheel loss element of the technology. Having this protection across the fleet now gives us huge peace of mind, as well as bringing the added benefits in terms of fuel efficiency and cost-saving by having the tyres running at optimal pressures.”
Meanwhile, Furness Cars & Commercials has transformed its workshop efficiency since using a Josam Cam Aligner compact wheel alignment system, which enables it to offer fast, accurate wheel alignment services, with an emphasis on ease of use.
The garage – which specialises in light and heavy vehicle recovery as well as servicing, repairs and MOTs – previously used an external specialist for wheel alignment but purchased the Cam Aligner system three years ago, both for use on customers’ vehicles and on its own fleet, which includes four-wheel drive vehicles, vans, rigids and articulated HGVs.
Since Furness acquired the system and brought its wheel alignment in house, the company estimates it has saved £5,000 to £6,000 a year by checking tyres more frequently, with a greater degree of accuracy.
Also, Furness Cars’ drivers have noted improvements in vehicle handling since the garage adopted the Josam Cam Aligner, and tyre wear has significantly reduced.
The company receives aftersales support from AES UK, the sole UK distributor of Josam products.
Kevin Grieve, Director, said: “If we change a set of tyres – or bring a vehicle in for a safety inspection and the tyres are starting to look like they’re rubbing on the edges – then we can immediately see what’s going on and do the adjustment in less than half an hour.
“Adjusting it doesn’t take long. You just take the laptop with you into the pit, save the correct settings, and by the time you’ve got out of the pit and put your equipment away, the printout’s already done in the office.”
Giti Tire has begun digitising its European truck and bus (TBR) portfolio with RFID chips being imbedded into new product sidewalls to allow tyre life monitoring.
Allowing identification on a single unit level and guaranteed across the lifetime of each tyre, digital information is readable by all stakeholders and users such as tyre manufacturers, logistics firms, OEMs, distributors, wholesalers, fleet management specialists and professionals in quality assurance, retreading and end-of-life.
All information is collated through the Tire Information Service (TIS) system which has been created by the Global Data Service for Tyres and Automotive Components (GDSO), a non-profit association dedicated to the standardisation, simplification and sharing of data related to tyres.
The executive and members of the GDSO comprises 12 manufacturers whose initiative is to define and outline a global standard for tyre data and a global technical solution for retrieving data from participating companies.
Initial tyres to come to market with RFID tags include the Giti GSR237EVO and Giti GDR675EVO, two new Combi Road products delivering improved Rolling Resistance Coefficient (RRC).
Antonio Palummo, TBR Senior Engineer Europe for Giti Tire, said: “Through a standardised system of information sharing with major tyre manufacturers, the GDSO can improve the way tyre specifications are communicated between manufacturer and customer to improve accuracy, reduce time required for tracking and reporting and minimise the chances of human error.
“Digitisation is the catalyst the future development of the tyre industry, and the ability to track and share information is the key to assure circularity and compliance with automatic and sustainable environments.”
Also, the recent integration of the Goodyear DriverHub application with Volvo Trucks’ My Business Apps is allowing drivers and fleet managers to access real-time tyre data.
This includes real-time tyre monitoring, meaning immediate alerts and notifications for tyre pressure and temperature deviations, enabling proactive maintenance to reduce breakdowns and enhance road safety.
In addition, predictive maintenance ensures detection of pressure leaks – with differentiation between fast and slow leaks – allowing drivers to take timely and appropriate actions.
The application works seamlessly with Goodyear’s tyre management solutions, providing accurate and continuous tyre condition information.
My Business Apps is a subscription-based service from Volvo Trucks, enabling customers to download business-related apps from different service providers for usage in the truck’s side display – with no extra smartphones or tablets required.
Piotr Czyżyk, Managing Director Fleet Mobility EMEA at Goodyear said: “Integrating Goodyear DriverHub with Volvo Trucks’ My Business Apps represents an important step toward enhancing fleet management with advanced tire monitoring solutions.
“Our digital application ensures that drivers and fleet managers have access to vital tire data, helping them make informed decisions that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support sustainability.”