Prometeon tyres bound for UK

Prometeon Tyre Group has launched its new SuperTruck network to supply its tyres across the UK.

Having initially launched in Italy in 2019, SuperTruck is now rolling out to six other countries: Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland.

SuperTruck UK gives dealers access to the supply of Pirellibranded tyres produced by Prometeon under licence, with the dealers getting training and technical support from the company.

India Gould, Prometeon’s marketing manager, said: “We hold the same end goal as our dealer network of offering a consistently high standard of service to truck fleet operators. The new dealer event was the ideal opportunity to get to know the dealers and explain the benefits that the Prometeon partnership offers their businesses.”

Ali Yilmaz, Prometeon UK MD, added: “It’s important that we work collaboratively with our tyre dealer partners to grow and develop the Prometeon market offer and at the same time continue to support all our dealers in growing their businesses through the supply of quality products and associated services tailored to the needs of truck fleet customers. SuperTruck will be a key component of our product and service growth and delivery plan as we move forward.”

Prometeon Tyre Group has also signed a new ‘pay-as-you-go’ contract with Collease Truck and Trailer Hire for their rental fleet based in Manchester, Felixstowe, Southampton, Norwich and Basildon.

A total of 1,920 units, consisting of 1,520 trailers and 400 vehicles, half of which are tractor units, will get their tyres replaced when required under the pay-as-you-go model.

Martin Drewery, maintenance director at Collease Truck and Trailer Hire, said: “We know from running a fleet for over 40 years that Prometeon’s Pirelli-branded tyres give us the ‘price against life’ value that we need for our fleet. Our customers need fuel efficiency, reliability and a premium tyre that is robust and hard wearing.”

Prometeon will be supplying tyres from their Itineris range. The majority of tyres fitted are IT-T90 for trailers, with IT-S90 being fitted to the steer and IT-D90 for drive axles.

“It’s been a positive move getting Prometeon on board, and a seamless transition from our previous supplier,” added Drewery.

Until recently, the centre of the small Welsh border town of Knighton was home to a thriving Scania dealership, now an outpost of the Manchester-based West Pennine Trucks group.

But in the four decades since it was established, it had clearly far outgrown its original location. It was only the flexible approach of its loyal workforce that kept it functioning, as both the size of vehicles and the customer base increased significantly.

Now though, the dedicated team led by depot manager Phil Gillum can enjoy the fruits of years of patience in a spacious new dealership, with all the facilities that would be available to a high-profile big city dealership. Most welcome of all though, is space. No longer will Gillum have to get in early on a Saturday to shuffle trucks for the busy day ahead.

Long and winding road

The story of Scania in Knighton dates back to 1984, when Knighton Trucks was established. Its first sales were a pair of tractors to the late Graham Middleton, a livestock haulier from Llandrindod Wells.

From small beginnings, the business thrived, and in January 2000 became part of the West Pennine Trucks network, by which time Gillum already had 11 years of service with the company, having joined as a mechanic.

The customer list reads like a Who’s Who of mid-Wales hauliers, including Bayliss Bros, AE Gough & Sons, Phil Morris, Craig Morris, Connop & Son, Alick Archer & Sons, Bromfield Sand Gravel and Glyn Hamer Mill Mix all having been customers for more than 20 years, with John Weaver and Pete Preston dating back to before 1990. The cramped town centre location didn’t stop Knighton ending 2022 with the highest customer satisfaction score in the West Pennine Trucks network, scoring 8.6 out of 10, as well as finishing fourth in the Scania Service Team Awards.