Michelin tire deal takes John Sutch Cranes to new level

John Sutch Cranes has confirmed that it will use Michelin tires for its entire fleet of mobile cranes, tractors, trailers and hard-framed trucks after the Michelins trial kit overcame more than twice the distance normally observed from the company's previous tires.

The family-owned company compared the characteristics of the 445/95 Michelin X-Crane R25 tires installed on one of the Three-Axe Liebherr cranes with a similar crane doing a similar job but running on tires of the same size from another premium brand.

Ian Seddon, service and transportation manager at John Sutch Cranes, explains: "The benefits of adopting the Michelin policy were evident from our test; provides a longer life and very uniform wear. We also see similar performance of two more Michelin tire sets mounted on a pair of our five-axis Grove cranes."

Seddon and his team closely followed the test tires throughout the process, making a thorough comparison between the two premium brands: "In addition to the fact that Michelins have covered twice the distance, they have not experienced the irregular wear that we have seen on other tires. They also easily coped with the various surfaces and landscapes we encounter on the spot."

The Michelin switch to Michelin tires is expected to provide long-term operating costs, leading to a decision to extend The Michelin policy to the entire fleet of the company's commercial vehicles.

"Using Michelin tires will help us save on costs in the long run, as we won't replace so often, and the lower rolling resistance we're seeing should help unlock the ever-increasing fuel efficiency. Plus, of course, installing tires that last longer means we'll consume less raw materials."

The Michelin X-Crane is made from a super-strength rubber mix that extends the life of the tires and helps eliminate uneven wear - meaning that the tires generate fewer vibrations on the road, increasing the operator's comfort. The sturdy cables inside the hull and the long-lasting board area increase reliability, helping to protect against downtime. Tires are also designed for lower temperature than competing manufacturers, which increases lifespan and reduces the likelihood of premature replacement or breakdown.

John Sutch Cranes will replace the tires in its truck fleet as it wears out, switching to Michelin X Multi HD tires - a regional tread pattern for heavy operating conditions. These tires are durable, versatile and ideal for the fleets needed to operate on the roads, and are able to handle aggressive off-road surfaces while being delivered to "last mile" construction sites.

The key to ensuring policy change was the support of Michelin Territory's manager, Ian Fitzpatrick. "Jan gave us a lot of really useful tips and drew our attention to the X Multi HD line, which we are sure is perfect for our trucks.

"He also introduced us to Michelin's free tire damage guarantee, which extends to most of our cargo tires and gives us the added peace of mind that investing in Michelin's premium policy was the right move."

Founded in 1990, John Sutch Cranes specialises in mobile crane rentals and contract lifts in the north-west of England. The company has a fleet of 38 cranes of various brands and sizes, seven trucks and 11 trailers.