Ringtons switches fleet to Michelin

Leading tea and coffee retailer Ringtons has signed up with Michelin in a deal that will see the manufacturer provide tyres for its 200-vehicle fleet of light commercial vehicles. The Newcastle company had fitted mid-range tyres two years ago in an attempt to reduce costs. Its fleet manager Stephen Killinger says that the cheaper product led to a greater frequency of replacement due to a reduction in tyre life.

Killinger said: “We had previously used Michelin but a couple of years ago we made the decision to purchase mid-range tyres which promised to give us a significant cost saving. That turned out to be a false economy as we failed to get the same life from the cheaper tyres that we got from the Michelins.

“Our drivers are stopping and starting all day as they deliver tea and coffee across the UK. It’s pretty tough but if we can fit fewer replacement tyres that means our vans can spend less time in the garage.”

Killinger said the fuel economy benefits of fitting Michelin 195/65  R 15 Energy Saver tyres to Ringtons’ fleet, which last year clocked up a combined 875,000 miles, was an attractive feature for the business: “We buy tea and coffee from the most remote corners of the world and our business has very strong ethics. Fuel economy is important to us both in terms of environmental impact and cost savings.

“As a business we spend £450,000 each year on fuel so any saving we can make is beneficial, especially in the current economic climate. We can expect up to a five per cent increase in miles per gallon because the rolling resistance of the Michelin tyres are that much lower.”