Dunlop Tyres manufacturer and distributor Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) says it is the first tyre manufacturer in South Africa to launch truck tyre insurance.

As of April, the company extended its Dunlop Sure value-added tyre insurance – previously available for only certain passenger tyres, all sport utility vehicle tyres and light truck radial tyres – to the 315/80R22,5 SP835A in its truck and bus radial (TBR) range at no additional cost.

“Buying new tyres is a big investment and our deteriorating road conditions make this a huge worry for fleet owners and drivers. Tyres are an essential aspect of keeping truck fleets moving and getting drivers and cargo safely to their destinations. With the high-mileage requirements of heavy vehicles in the logistics sector, there is enormous pressure to improve cost per kilometre, reduce breakdown costs and overcome challenging traffic congestion and road conditions, all while ensuring on-the-road safety,” SRSA CEO Lubin Ozoux tells Engineering News.

With the 315/80R22,5 SP835A covered by Dunlop Sure Truck Tyre Insurance, this is less of a headache, he says, adding that the feedback received by the company on the insurance indicates “great promise and that the insurance will be a success”.

It has been extensively tested for African road conditions and offers up to 18% more mileage, claims SRSA, which manufactures the Dunlop, Sumitomo and Falken tyre brands.

The 315/80R22,5 SP835A is also covered for use on roads in South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini, Namibia and Botswana for 18 months from the date of purchase – six months longer than the standard coverage period offered on Dunlop’s nontruck and bus radial insurance offering.

“Transport companies cover between 10 000 km and 15 000 km a month per truck, so we wanted to insure the tyre for its entire first life,” adds Ozoux.

Full tyre replacement is offered in the first six months for irreparable truck-tyre damage sustained in all road hazards without any costs for tread already used, with the owner liable for fitment costs. If the tyre claim falls under the next 12 months, the remaining tread will be calculated, and a credit paid directly to the owner by the insurer.

Claims can be lodged through any Dunlop dealer in South Africa, eSwatini, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho, provided the insurance policy was registered by the dealer and a valid policy number is provided as confirmation.

Meanwhile, market demand for the 315/80R22,5 SP835A truck tyre has outgrown SRSA’s manufacturing capability, prompting the KwaZulu-Natal-based company to increase its production capacity.

The tyre was introduced locally in September 2020, with more than 16 000 units of the 315/80R22,5 SP835A sold since the launch of the insurance.

“We were long overdue to release a new Dunlop Premium Drivetyre onto the market, but we also knew that we had only one chance to get it right. We waited until we were 100% convinced that the SP835A could compete with the best tyres available in the market,” says Ozoux.

The SP835A is designed to reduce the need for maintenance and rotation, providing greater mileage output, more even wear in all environments, reduced energy loss and improved fuel efficiency.

Condition-Monitoring Difficulties

“The Dunlop Sure Truck Tyre Insurance provides fleet owners with peace of mind that s/he will be covered, should a tyre be lost for any unforeseen reason, such as irreparable damage resulting from potholes, weighbridge damage or any other irreparable penetrations. Fleet owners can now fit a premium tyre that will reduce cost per kilometre without worrying about the potential cost effect of having to replace this premium tyre in the future,” states Ozoux.

However, once a truck tyre is in service, it is the responsibility of the owner or operator to keep these safety critical components in the best condition possible, so that they can enhance cost per kilometre, he states.

These days, trucks need to be on the move as much as possible to ensure that logistics companies survive. Therefore, getting the fleet into the yard for maintenance is not an easy task for fleet managers, emphasises Ozoux.

“Fleets operating on cross-border routes may have trucks coming into the yard only once or twice a month for maintenance, potentially leading to tyres being worn too far and unsuitable for retread. Some transporters also tender for contracts in other provinces, with longer stretches on the road and limited time for trucks to return to the depot for maintenance.”

Failing to keep track or address poor truck-tyre conditions can lead to excessive tyre bills and increased breakdowns, especially owing to the loss of casings because of premature failures such as uneven wear.

“Increased fuel consumption also has a direct link to tyre maintenance, especially tyre pressure and wheel alignment. No fleet management programme should ever cut corners when it comes to checking tyre tread, tyre pressure and wheel alignment, balancing and rotation,” explains Ozoux.