Addison Lee moves to Michelin

Stoke-on-Trent, UK – London’s largest private minicab firm Addison Lee is putting its entire fleet on Michelin tyres after a three-month trial proved the premium rubber lasts longer, Michelin said 23 June.

Until recently, taxi company used mid-range tyres on its 4,700 vehicles, but after testing Michelin tyres on eight cars, including a Ford Galaxy and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, fleet manager Rob Daniels has implemented a full Michelin policy.

“The results of the trial proved that Michelins are the best tyres for our business,” said Daniels, commenting in a Michelin press release. “We were getting at least eight percent longer from the Michelins than any others – that’s a difference of 10,000 miles on our Galaxy and even more on the S-Class.

“When you have got a fleet the size of ours covering the amount of miles we do every day, that difference will translate into significantly fewer tyre replacements each year.

“That will save us money, but it will also reduce the inconvenience to drivers of changing the tyres – meaning they can spend more time on the road.

Under the new policy, around 3,800 Ford Galaxy, 30 Mercedes S-Class and 260 E-Class vehicles will be fitted with premium Michelin tyres, along with Addison Lee’s taxi bike fleet.