UK coach company trials latest Michelin tyre safety technology
Stanley Travel is one of the first coach and bus companies in the UK to trial Michelin’s latest tyre safety technology, offering its customers added reassurance against the risk of wheel loss.
The family-run company is testing the Michelin Wheel Security and Tyre Pressure Management System (TPMS) Heavy Fleet on two brand new Volvo B8R Plaxton Panther 3 coaches, with a view to rolling out the product across the rest of its fleet.
Designed by UK technology company Wheely-Safe, a global Michelin licensee, the Michelin Wheel Security & TPMS Heavy Fleet is the world’s first in-motion driver alert system which detects the onset of wheel loss before detachment.
“It was very easy to fit and we think it will be a great safety feature for us,” says Ian Scott, Director, Stanley Travel. “It’s so important to have that added reassurance. We provide transport for thousands of people so, of course, tyre and wheel safety is absolutely imperative for our business.
“Across the coach industry wheel loss is an unfortunate occurrence, and it does happen to fleets. It’s normally always on the nearside rear wheel and can be disastrous. This new technology gives us another form of security to combat that.”
The product set up is simple. A sensor straddles two wheel nuts thanks to a specially designed bracket – with a pair fitted to each wheel – and if a nut starts to loosen by just 1mm of movement, a signal is instantly transmitted to the solar-powered display unit, alerting the driver to pull over.
Due to its location next to the wheel rim and braking mechanism, the system’s onboard heat sensor can also detect brake issues involving low or high temperatures, including when they exceed 90ºC – a reading that could indicate maintenance issues such as sticking brakes or hub failure.
An inbuilt TPMS is also provided, using the same technology which has already made a big impact with the Michelin TPMS Light Fleet system for LCV operators. It comprises a set of robust TPMS sensors which replace the traditional valve caps and auto-pair with the display unit, which fixes onto the windscreen.
