South East Coast Ambulance Service switches to Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tyres

The South East Coast Ambulance Service has adopted a Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tyre policy across its fleet.

More than 350 ambulances will be fitted with the all-season tyres, as part of the new policy.

The tyres promise full winter capability and replace the fleet’s policy of fitting Michelin Agilis Alpin winter tyres year-round.

James Nutbrown, west workshops area manager, says: “Every aspect of an ambulance’s specification is critical for us; but particularly the tyres. Our crews are required to make swift progress under blue-light conditions and ensuring their safe mobility in all weathers is paramount.

“Winter tyres have previously served us well, but you pay the price in the summer months with increased tyre wear. Michelin recommended Agilis CrossClimate as a way of benefiting from all the performance advantages of a summer tyre on dry and wet roads, but with guaranteed winter performance built-in when the temperatures drop and in the event of ice or snow.”

The Service is already reporting improved wear rates, with the first sets of Agilis CrossClimate tyres wearing evenly across the surface of the tyre – and tread depth readings pointing to extended replacement intervals.

South East Coast Ambulance Service projects it will have transitioned 100% of its ambulance fleet to Agilis CrossClimate tyres within a matter of weeks.

Nutbrown added: “You can’t mix summer and winter tyres, so when an ambulance comes in needing a pair of new tyres we’ve been removing all four or six winter fitments and replacing them with a full set of Agilis CrossClimates. And then we’ve been using up any life left in those tyres on the next vehicle which comes in. It’s proven an effective way of ensuring we extract the full performance from the tyres we already have, whilst introducing the latest generation technology at the same time.”