Officials at Southampton City Council have reportedly shaved more than 10 per cent off the annual tyre bill for their 460-strong fleet after a move to fitting premium Michelin tyres has extended replacement intervals.

The decision to fit Michelin began in April 2013 and saw an immediate tyre spend reduction of 11 per cent for the year 2013-2014, versus the previous policy, which had seen a mixture of different brands fitted. In the following year, 2014-2015, Southampton City Council’s tyre spend dropped by nearly three per cent more, as greater numbers of Michelin tyres were rolled out.