Salisbury-based merchant East Brothers Timber, which recently took delivery of a JCB 416 wheeled loader shovel, specified Michelin XHA tyres.

East Brothers director Mark Gilbert says he made the selection, following good experiences with the tyres, which began when a of Michelins was fitted on one of his forklift trucks seven years ago.

Until then, he had never purchased a Michelin industrial tyre and was using a mix of Bridgestone and budget fitments across his counterbalance forklifts and loading shovels.

However, those first Michelin XZM tyres lasted four years. "We make pallets, so there are a lot of nails around the yard. For a set of tyres to last four years was unheard-of," comments Gilbert.

"Since that day we've phased in Michelin tyres across most of the fleet – and the majority have lasted just as long. Michelin's the only tyre brand that can withstand the kind of wear and tear our machines are subjected to."

The new JCB 416 will be in operation for 40 hours a week, loading wood chips, pallets and timber from East Brothers' timber yard into bulk trailers.