Reduce your fuel consumption by using energy-saving truck tyres

Economic and environmental stakes are putting more pressure on fleets to get their tyre strategy spot on. With inflation still running high, reducing energy consumption becomes a priority. Michelin has created two ranges of energy-saving tyres for long-haul and regional use to help fleets master their energy costs. François Le Hen, Director of Product Marketing, tells us more about it.

François Le Hen, Director of Product Marketing

Could you start giving us information about the economic and environmental context putting the fleet's energy consumption at stake?

First, Covid-19 has caused inflation and disrupted the global economy. Secondly, the political context of 2022-2023 has worsened the existing challenges, making energy (fuel, gas and electricity) prices unpredictable. Then, there's a shortage of drivers due to changing HGV drivers' expectations about their working conditions and other local factors. Finally, the drive to improve the sustainability of the road transport industry means many businesses must adapt their vehicle fleets to reduce environmental impact.

How exactly does this impact HGV fleets?

In such a volatile business environment, fleets face lower profit margins, and they must be vigilant in managing their costs to remain in control and make informed decisions. When updating their truck fleets, companies must take account of the latest standards which means buying more fuel-efficient vehicles. They must closely monitor all fleet management data, such as loading and vehicle telematics information, to determine the precise fuel consumption per driver and vehicle. This information can then be used to drive the awarding of potential fuel consumption bonuses or provide eco-driver training to their drivers, as required.

Additionally, fleets must prioritise predictive maintenance to prevent costly breakdowns, optimise tyre expenditure, and regroove & retread tyres to keep on top of running costs.

How do low rolling resistance tyres help fleets reduce their energy consumption?

It’s important to understand from the outset that today Michelin can offer two different types of low-rolling-resistance tyres for trucks, making the product accessible to more fleets, in more applications, than ever before

Both of these low-rolling-resistance tyre ranges reduce the energy consumption of trucks. The MICHELIN X® LINE™ ENERGY™ 2 and the MICHELIN X® MULTI™ ENERGY™ have the same grip potential as standard ranges when it comes to traction and braking. At Michelin, we don't compromise on safety and quality.

Both of these low-rolling-resistance tyre ranges reduce the energy consumption of trucks. The MICHELIN X® LINE™ ENERGY™ 2 and the MICHELIN X® MULTI™ ENERGY™ have the same grip potential as standard ranges when it comes to traction and braking. At Michelin, we don't compromise on safety and quality.

How do energy-saving tyres help fleets reduce their environmental footprint?

Both the MICHELIN X® LINE™ ENERGY™ 2 and the MICHELIN X® MULTI™ ENERGY™ ranges reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption, meaning less CO2 emissions when fitted to a diesel- or gas-powered vehicle.

The European Commission has set ambitious targets for OEMs to decrease their CO2 emissions by 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035, and 90% in 2040. Penalties will be applied if they fail to meet these environmental targets.⁽⁵⁾

CO2 isn't the only emission we want to reduce when you use energy-saving tyres. With the MICHELIN X® LINE™ ENERGY™ 2 and MICHELIN X® MULTI™ ENERGY™ ranges, as with other Michelin products, our ambition is to reduce emissions of wear particles. Just like our passenger car tyres, these reduce such emissions by up to 20% per kilometre(6) compared with their competitors.

Wear particles are a growing environmental concern, and regulations are expected from the European Commission.

It means that when purchasing low rolling resistance tyres, you are investing in a more sustainable fitment policy, with a tread pattern that can be regrooved and a casing that can be retreaded. Your investment can also lead to improved fuel economy, better electric vehicle range, and lower maintenance costs. Measure the impact of regrooving on your fleet's efficiency using our calculator.