Ian W Bentley Bulk Transport Ltd. from Huddersfield has achieved over 275,000kms on Continental HDC1 drive axle tyres on a DAF 8-wheel bulker – with all tyres still in legal operation. The DAF CF tipper arrived at the company’s yard with Continental tyres fitted as OE when it was delivered back in October 2014. Since then, the vehicle achieved exceptionally-low wear, despite handling a tough five-days-a-week schedule of long- and short-haul work around the UK, including both on- and off-road working.
Robert Bentley, son of the business’ founder Ian Bentley, has driven the vehicle for much of its life to date, but says the truck has not been treated differently to the rest of the company’s fleet of tippers and tractor units, which have had a variety of tyres fitted over the same period. Robert, now the operational director of the firm, said, “We operate seven trucks on an extremely busy schedule hauling sand, coal and other bulk loads right across the country. We have never had tyres behave as well as these from Continental. The HSC1 steer axle tyres ran for well over 200,000kms, and though we have now retreaded the drive axle tyres, they still have a solid 5mm of safe, usable tread on them.”
The operator runs a fleet of four 8-wheel tippers, three 6×2 tractor units and four tipping trailers. Alongside contract work for various local and national customers, the company also operates its own silica sand supply business. It buys and sells product across the UK, delivering to manufacturers of artificial stone used in a variety of household and garden applications, as well as supplying dairy farmers with cattle bedding and equestrian centres with sands.
“It’s a demanding environment for tyres,” says Robert Bentley. “Because of this we have traditionally used a mixture of ‘budget’ tyres, but with the Continental tyre OE fitment on the DAF truck we have now been able to experience the wear and performance characteristics of premium tyres. I have to say that, on the basis of this, I will be buying more Continental tyres as we move forward.”
Ian W Bentley Bulk Transport Ltd. has long operated a policy of stock-holding tyres in house to meet the inevitable demands of the tough work it does. With a strong element of off-road work in the daily mix, the need for urgent replacement of damaged carcasses is an ever-present factor. The company fleet tyres are checked every working day by drivers as well as Robert himself, who also runs the maintenance workshops at the company. He says, “We don’t have a huge fleet by some people’s standards, but we do have a very busy one and can’t afford to have trucks off the road. We also want to maintain the very highest safety standards possible, so thorough checks are vital, and having our in-house stocks means we can immediately change any tyre that needs it.”
Steve Howat General Manager – Technical Services, Continental Tyres said wear with the OE fitment experienced by Ian W Bentley Bulk Transport is exceptionally low: “The HDC1 is a tyre much favoured by fleets across the construction, logging and bulk haulage sectors with their tough on/off-road movements. The mileage achieved by the tyres at Ian W Bentley whist exceptionally high shows how correct maintenance and regrooving of premium Continental tyres can maximise the mileage potential. These tyres are designed to offer best possible durability, performance and lower the overall cost of driving.
Howat adds, “The 32/32 tread pattern and compound are integrated specifically to deliver better original mileage and traction under these conditions, while their carefully optimised contour ensures higher load reserves and less deformation. Additionally, the HDC1’s patented tread pattern and contour provide stable casing value through reduced stone retention and improved impact resistance – ideal for the type of work undertaken by Ian W Bentley Bulk Transport Ltd.”
