Doing the rounds

The cost of tyre purchase, repair and maintenance represents a significant overhead to the transport operator. Industry analysts have estimated that tyre prices have soared by between 3% and 6% as a result of a weak euro and spiralling oil prices in the last six months alone. However price isn’t the determining factor in the buying decision. We spoke to a number of leading tyre retailers around the country and discovered that quality products and level of service are equally important.

Hi Q Atlas
Hi Q Atlas (formerly Atlas Tyres) has been established in the commercial tyre market for almost 30 years. With depots at Dorset Street, and Motor City on the Kylemore Road, the company is ideally placed to meet the requirements of the haulier in the Dublin area and beyond.

The company specialise in fleet maintenance, which accounts for a major proportion of its business. Bus Eireann, Irish Rail, Eircom and other “blue chip” companies such as BOC Gases, Dan Ryan Truck Rentals, National Truck Rentals and Securicor Omega Express all avail of the company’s expert services.

Sales Director, Michael Weir who has been with the company for 16 years, revealed the secret of the company’s success. “We have a reputation for reliability and service and supplying a quality product. We are unrivalled in our service and speed of response. It is generally accepted and acknowledged in the trade that our turn around times are exceptional.”

The company offers a 24 hour breakdown service throughout the 26 counties. Michael elaborated: “we have a mobile fleet that operates in the Dublin area but we have associations with various companies through out the country. They work for us, and in turn we look after their Dublin requirements. There is a good interaction between us.”

The company ethos is ‘prevention is better than cure’. “We concentrate on keeping our fleet customers happy in that their trucks and trailers are in good order. Consequently that cuts down on the number of breakdowns we get. We put a lot of preventative work into it. Nobody wants downtime because of breakdowns,” Michael enthused.

Hi Q Atlas has a team of highly trained an experienced fitters which gives the company an edge over the competition. “That is vital in this day and age because of the new technology with tyres and suspensions and so, on. They are experienced and reliable and provide a service night and day,” Michael added.

Michael explained that the company stocks all the major brands including Dunlop, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Yokohama and Pirelli to name a few. In fact they have a range of tyres to suit every application and budget at very competitive prices. Michael added: “We are competitive on price. Our service charges are very modest in comparison to some of the other companies.”

Last year the company merged with the Mc Cormack MacNaughton Group and has plans to expand and renovate both the Dorset Street and Kylemore facilities. While the name and corporate image many have changed, reliability, quality of service and competitive prices are still the cornerstones of the operation. Michael commented: “It is the continuation of a successful business in a slightly different form. In this game you can’t still. You either go forward or you go out of business.”

Tyre Pro Bandag
Tyre Pro Bandag Ltd., are based Blanchardstown, Dublin 11. The company specialise in the manufacture and nationwide distribution of the Bandag range of truck tyre re-treads and are distributors for most of the leading truck tyre brands.

Managing Director, Dermot Higgins, who has 25 years experience in the tyre trade explained the benefits of the Bandag range. “The trend is moving towards re-treads for a variety of reasons. We guarantee the Bandag has the same tyre life as any of the premium brands. Truckers are looking for value for money, and the Bandag range represents great value. Anybody with a fleet of trucks would seriously have to consider them. They are also very environmentally friendly because it takes one third the oil needed to manufacture a new tyre.”

While the company has been manufacturing the Bandag range for the last seven years November 1999 marked a watershed for the progressive company. World renowned golfer Ian Woosnam officially opened the company’s new £1 million state of the art manufacturing and sales facility at Rosemount Park Drive on the north side of the city. Dermot is justifiably proud of the equipment the company has installed. “We have the latest in laser wheel alignment and balancing equipment. Our manufacturing facility is first class.”

The company also operate a 24 hour breakdown service anywhere in Ireland or Europe. For more information on the Bandag range or any of the company’s services Dermot can be contacted on 01-8227707

Modern Tyre Group
The Modern Tyre Group specialise in wholesaling and retailing commercial tyres throughout Northern Ireland. With a network of outlets throughout the region, Group is ideally placed to meet the requirements of the most demanding haulier. The Group also has a presence in the Republic through the D26 Tyre Company who wholesale the Vreidestein brand.

Wholly owned by the Byrne family the Group is continuing to grow despite a depressed market in Northern Ireland. The company has grown year on year and the year 2000 has proven to be very successful. The company attributes its success to placing a greater emphasis on a high quality service with competitive pricing.

Through the company’s network of depots, customers are offered a 24 hour breakdown service throughout Northern Ireland. To avail of this service customers need only ring the local depot number. If the call is placed outside business hours the customer will get an answering machine. There are two numbers on the answering machine. One is the number of the local breakdown man and the other is the breakdown co-ordinator for Northern Ireland. The price of the call out is also detailed on the answering machine so the customer knows exactly what he is going to be billed.

The Group realise that “time is money” for transport operators and it has equipped all of its depots with the latest equipment. The depots are very modern and up to date and have the latest lifting equipment, air guns and torque wrenching machines. Turn around time, especially for the end user is very important

In Northern Ireland the Group is multi-branded. The big brands for truckers are Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental and Sava. However, the Group can cater for individual customer requirements and has tyres to suit every budget.