Michelin X InCity bus deal keeps London moving
The combined agreements see well over 8,000 vehicles under the management of London Buses - part of Transport for London (TfL) - operating primarily on 245/70 R 19.5 and 275/70 R 22.5 Michelin X InCity tyres
With 2.2 billion passenger trips made across approximately 700 different routes on the London network each year, the combined contract includes single-deck, double-deck, bendy-buses and historic Routemasters (still operating on two heritage routes) supported by Michelin Fleet Solutions, covering a combined total of nearly 300 million miles each year.
Designed primarily for urban and inter-urban applications, the X InCity performs well in demanding stop/start applications and benefits from a casing that has additional protection against kerb damage with reinforced sidewalls.
X InCity tyres are manufactured using Michelin Durable Technologies and feature full-depth Double Wave sipes which ensure that, no matter what the weather, the tread pattern combines excellent grip with longer tyre life, whilst providing greater safety for passengers and other road users. The tyres also feature wear indicators on the sidewalls to simplify regular fleet checks.
Each contract sees bus operators follow the Michelin Four Lives tyre process which ensures they benefit from the maximum mileage performance of each tyre whilst reducing their impact on the environment. This sees each tyre regrooved when the tread depth reaches 3mm, to take advantage of the additional layer of rubber included in all Michelin commercial vehicle tyres. Once the regrooved tyre has worn it is remoulded by Michelin into an X InCity Remix, which offers virtually the same performance as a new Michelin tyre. It too can be regrooved to provide a fourth life.
As part of the contract, Michelin will carry out tyre fitment, maintenance and fleet inspections on every vehicle, ensuring all tyres in service are in good condition. This is done by 60 Michelin staff based full-time in bus depots across London. Inspections also include tyre pressure checks and adjustments to settings recommended by Michelin for each vehicle type – helping to maximise tyre life and fuel economy.
