The two trucks, called Megatron and Terminator, are Scania R-Series 620bhp and 730bhp rigids. The tyres on Megatron, with its 22,500-litre waste tank and heavy-duty jetting equipment, are often carrying maximum weight, frequently over rough ground.
The south London-based operator had experienced several tyre failures using a competitor brand, due to stone trapping and ensuing wear and punctures. So it contacted Continental and local supplier Universal Tyres, who recommended the Continental Construction tyre range – HSC1 on steer axles and HDC1 on drive axles.
Hydro Cleansing fits its 40-strong fleet’s tyres using its own workshops. Workshop manager Michael Kelley says: “We had run a single brand policy for some time, but the issues of stone-trapping and the resulting punctures were just unacceptable ... The HDC/HSC combination has changed the picture for us. We have run them for 12 months now and punctures and other problems like premature wear have been significantly reduced.”
As well as improved tyre performance, Hydro Cleansing uses the ContiPressureCheck system in each truck. With its in-cab display, drivers can see pressures and temperatures, enabling them to take action before serious failures occur. The information is also streamed to the operator’s office for monitoring and management.
Steve Hoad, Hydro’s managing director, praises the safety benefits of the system, as well as the improved fuel efficiency. He adds: “We picked up a slow puncture on one vehicle in the very first week of the system’s installation. In the past that would almost certainly have been a lost tyre, but with the immediate knowledge of the problem, we saved the tyre – and all the cost and possible unexpected downtime.”
Hydro Cleansing is now looking at using Continental tyres across more of its truck and van fleet.