The new agreement will see ATS Euromaster work in partnership with Grocontinental’s maintenance team fitting Michelin tyres across the fleet – replacing a previous Goodyear policy which had been managed internally for more than 30 years.

David Grocott, Joint Managing Director of Grocontinental says: “Tyres have a critical impact on a vehicle’s fuel economy, and after a Michelin tyre trial we saw that by working with ATS Euromaster to manage our tyres more effectively, we could make valuable savings to our fuel bill.  Switching our procurement policy will also allow us to follow Michelin’s Four Lives tyre strategy.

“It was a difficult decision for us to make because of the length of time we have worked with our previous supplier, but ATS Euromaster was able to offer a range of additional benefits including a nationwide roadside assistance service and weekly fleet checks to ensure our tyres remain in the optimum condition,” he adds.

Grocontinental, which is based in Whitchurch, was started by the Grocott family in the 1930’s, and is now an international company with many blue-chip customers, specialising in shared-user, controlled-temperature distribution.

The weekly fleet inspections are carried out using ATS Euromaster’s EDC2 electronic data capture system which allows its technicians to record each tyre’s condition and tread depth onto a small handheld computer. Results are then uploaded via mobile phone to a central database.  

Once collected from the database, the information is sent by email to the local ATS Euromaster service centre in Market Drayton, which co-ordinates any tyre replacements or service work that is required directly with Grocontinental’s in-house maintenance team.

The contract will see Michelin fitted as standard, with all commercial vehicle tyres following the complete Michelin Four Lives tyre policy. Closely managed by ATS Euromaster, this will see truck tyres being regrooved, remoulded and regrooved again to ensure maximum mileage performance from each premium Michelin casing.