Maximise winter mobility for trucks and trailers

By Eric Muller, Director Products & Innovation Commercial Europe at Goodyear. 

There's nothing more frustrating than sitting in traffic because somewhere ahead a truck has been stopped by the winter weather and is blocking a lane — or worse, the entire road.

But it's not just driving in the snow and ice that can cause a problem for trucks on our roads. Even in the UK, which often sees milder winters than other parts of Europe, roads are often blocked by breakdowns and the wet weather increases braking distances significantly.

Some things can't be avoided but there's plenty that can be done to make sure a truck is ready to tackle the majority of what winter can throw at it. The key is proper preparation and maintenance. Just a few small steps could reduce avoidable breakdowns and incidents involving commercial vehicles.

Get ready for winter

Because winter can throw up all sorts of unpredictable weather and road conditions, all trucks should be checked before winter arrives. This means thorough checks as of September to ensure all vehicles are ready.

Having parts in-stock can also help fleets maximise winter uptime. Waiting around for consumables such as tyres can reduce winter mobility significantly.

Winter-specific checks

At the depot, a clear routine should be in place to ensure each truck is ready to go, no matter the weather. These checks should include tyre tread and pressures, brakes, and fluids. It should be clear to the driver if there are any issues with the vehicle that need addressing and depots should make it easy for these issues to be identified, looked at and fixed to maximise winter mobility.

For large fleets, drive-over-readers can make checking tyres a quick job using technology that scans each vehicle as it enters the depot.

Use the correct tyres

3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) tyres are the standard for winter in Europe. They decrease winter braking distances, increasing safety. From November 2012, the UNECE Regulation 117 requires that for tyres to be used in winter conditions, a minimum level of winter braking and traction needs to be achieved — tyres that pass these tests are marked as 3PMSF.

3PMSF tyres can be used all year long and they are also compliant with winter regulations across Europe. There are some countries in Europe that require 3PMSF tyres not only to be fitted to the drive and/or steer axle but also on trailers, as this increases braking power and ensures the trailer won't overtake the tractor.

At Goodyear, our latest generation of KMAX GEN-2 and FUELMAX GEN-2 drive, steer and trailer tyres, all including the 3PMSF marking, are especially developed to optimise traction along the service life, even at 75% worn. We created sophisticated tyre designs— namely, on the blades we put inside them. Their advanced shape is very resistant to tearing, chipping and chunking — while ensuring the tyre is good for winter and at the same time provides low rolling resistance to reduce the carbon footprint of the total vehicle.

For areas with heavy snow conditions, a dedicated winter range such as the ULTRA GRIP MAX is recommended. These 3PMSF tyres are designed for areas such as Scandinavia or the Alps where roads are frequently covered in snow and ice.

Timely replace tyres and regroove to refresh traction

Almost all of us who drive regularly have been in a situation where the road has been blocked by a jack-knifing lorry. In the best-case scenario, this causes delays, but in the worst case, it can be downright dangerous. This is caused by lack of traction, and thanks to the weight carried by commercial vehicles, even the smallest skid can cause a large slide.

Consumers might be used to wearing their tyres down to the legal limit before changing them, but this is poor practice. With a heavy truck, keeping an eye on tyre tread and condition is vital. At Goodyear, we advise looking at the tyre wear and early regrooving can refresh traction at the start of winter and will make them last longer. This allows fleets to keep good level of mobility during winter. Below five millimetres of remaining rubber, the tyre will offer less traction.

Safety is important to the commercial vehicle industry and fleets are very proactive when it comes to preparing and maintaining their vehicles for winter use. Winter mobility isn't just important for the haulage and transport sectors either, increased winter mobility also positively affects car drivers as it minimises delays on the road.