2009.01.15

Hanover, January 2009. A significant improvement in mileage, a substantial cut to fuel consumption tied in with a reduced burden on the environment and a clear rise in the overall tyre performance. This is the outcome of a carefully evaluated trial in which Aberdeen-based Grampian International Freight Limited, who operate all over Europe, tested Continental’s long-distance tyres Eco-Plus-HSL1 and HDL1.

The company fitted a three-axle Scania from its truck fleet with both tyres in Spring 2008. The first benefit immediately became apparent in the fuel consumption. In contrast to the other vehicles in the company’s fleet, which consumed 27.4 liters of diesel every 100 kilometers, the test truck made do with 24.76 liters. Since the truck covers around 140,000 kilometers each year, that results in a fuel saving of 3,696 liters. This alone means that buying even eight new tyres for each truck has financial benefits.

Furthermore Grampian International Freight Limited makes use of Continental’s full range of offers. This allows the company to select the ideal tyres for different vehicles whether tautliners or tractors, three-axle trailers, semi-trailers, stepframes or tri-axles. Since the launch of the HTR1 tire, the company has decided to fit this tire on all of the 90 trailers in its fleet. This is where the Continental tyres demonstrated their second advantage. The HTR1 tyres are good for 140,000 to 180,000 kilometers and therefore last between 18 and 24 months before they need to be changed. These excellent properties will even be topped by the new HTR2.

The haulage company has already recorded similar qualities in terms of greater mileages with the use of HSR1 tyres on Scania and Volvo tractors. These tyres can run for an average of 200,000 kilometers, on the trailing axles this value even reaches up to 300,000 kilometers. The example of Grampian International Freight clearly demonstrates the importance of using the correct tyres. The company operates vehicles on long distance routes all over Europe and also North Africa covering around 4.5 million kilometers each year. The whole fleet consists of 43 semi-trailer trucks and 90 trailers on around 1000 wheels. Consequently using the right tyres represents an enormous savings potential.

Service manager Jim Greig, who is responsible for the purchase and maintenance of all tyres used by the fleet is very impressed too: “The progress of product development with Continental truck tyres means that we are now achieving benefits in increased mileage, optimum fuel economy, and general tyre performance that we are more than happy with.” He also has praise for the local ContiNetwork dealer “Tyreservices Aberdeen”, with whom he has been working closely for many years in purchasing and also with breakdowns and repairs across the whole of the United Kingdom.

In addition to having economic advantages, the Continental tyres also make an important contribution to the environment thanks to their longer life and reduced fuel consumption. This fulfils a decisive criterion that Grampian International Freight and its parent company Panalpina World Transport as well as all major transport firms added to their requirement profiles.

With targeted annual sales of €25 billion for 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tyres and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 146,500 at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.