Welsh general haulier JAGA Brothers says a Michelin tyre policy has reduced monthly tyre spend by a third and cut tyre-related breakdowns across its truck and trailer fleet. The Newport and Cardiff steel transport operator reports longer tyre life, fewer missed deliveries and improved uptime since moving to Michelin products in 2023.
JAGA Brothers operates close to 50 tractor units and 130 trailers across the UK. Its vehicles cover around 180,000 kilometres a year, carrying steel from Newport and Cardiff before returning with backloads of bricks.
Since 2023, the haulier has been moving older fitments over to Michelin X Multi and X Line Energy products. The switch has not been immediate. Instead, tyres have been replaced as previous fitments reached the end of their service life.
James Hill, co-director of JAGA Brothers, said the higher upfront cost had been offset by longer service life. “Yes, the tyres may be more expensive than some rival products initially, but they last that much longer,” he said. “For us two to two and a half years on average, meaning you soon make your money back and more.”
In practice, the result is a lower tyre cost over time rather than a lower purchase price. Hill said the company’s monthly tyre spend has fallen by a third as the Michelin policy has bedded in.
The company says tyre failures have also reduced. That matters because a roadside failure affects more than the tyre budget. It can delay the load, remove a vehicle from service and create further damage.
Hill said: “It’s not just the price of the tyre when you have a breakdown that hurts. It’s the resulting missed delivery, the vehicle downtime, and potential for additional damage.”
The fleet is supported by Tuf Treads, which carries out daily fleet checks. This gives the operator a tyre maintenance routine alongside the product change.
This builds on a wider fleet trend. Recent Tyre News coverage of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Michelin tyre policy benefits also highlighted longer tyre life, fewer punctures and lower downtime. Tyre News has also reported on McGill’s Group consolidating its 625-vehicle fleet under a Michelin managed contract, where regrooving and retreading formed part of the operating model.
Supported by Howard Taylor, Senior Territory Business Manager for South and West Wales at Michelin, JAGA Brothers uses a Michelin multi-life policy to reduce total cost of ownership.
Worn tyres are regrooved on site once tread depth reaches 4mm. This extends tyre life while the casing remains in its most fuel-efficient phase. After the regrooved tyre has worn, suitable casings can be retreaded at Michelin’s Remix plant in Stoke.
The company says this approach saves natural resources, extends casing life and supports UK tyre manufacturing. For hauliers, the commercial point is simple: a casing becomes an asset to manage, not a product to discard after one tread life.
Hill said JAGA Brothers is also reviewing whether it could safely remove tyres at 3mm rather than 4mm. He said Michelin had suggested this could unlock further savings without affecting performance.
Alongside Multi Energy, Multi HD and Multi T fitments, JAGA Brothers is phasing in Michelin X Line Energy 2 tyres. These are replacing first-generation products on long-distance work.
The haulier also uses Michelin Connected Fleet data analysis. This helps identify harsh driving events for driver coaching and supports tyre pressure monitoring across the fleet.
For tyre dealers and fleet service providers, the case shows how tyre choice, inspection routines, regrooving, retreading and data can work together. The tyre sale is only part of the value chain. The operational savings come from managing each casing through more of its usable life.
Tagged with: Michelin tyres, JAGA Brothers, fleet tyre policy, commercial vehicle tyres, tyre spend, tyre failures, regrooving, retreading, Michelin Remix, tyre pressure monitoring, fleet uptime, Welsh haulier
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