Since many of the machines used to build today’s facilities are required to lift thousands of pounds of material up to six stories high, the machines must to be sturdy and secure. They also must be able to run at least eight hours a day, five to six days a week in an array of weather conditions.

Zick has always understood the important role that tires play in helping to ensure the stability of his machines, but not until recently did he realize that making a tire switch would affect numerous other aspects of his operations. “Our equipment has to perform on a day-in and day-out basis,” Zick said. “If our machines don’t run, we don’t build and then our deadlines aren’t met. That equates to upset customers. Simply put, Michelin tires help us perform for our customers and meet our deadlines. Michelin tires give us a positive return on investment in the long run and keep us on the job. At the end of the day, they contribute to our company’s bottom line.”

Two years ago, Zick’s fleet was running entirely on bias-ply tires. The main factor for this decision was the up front price, but after an increase in flat tires that kept his machines off the job, Zick realized that bias-ply tires were more susceptible to punctures. Zick looked to his tire dealer, Manny Diaz at Pomp’s Tire Service, for a solution.

Diaz recommended that Zick switch to Michelin® radial tires. Zick decided to try Michelin® XGLA2™ tires on one of his high-lift machines. They are still on the machine today. “I was a little skeptical about whether or not the Michelin tires could really outperform other brands in the rough conditions my machines experience on a daily basis,” Zick said. “I was leery to spend the extra money because I didn’t think there was going to be much of a difference. I was wrong. I have yet to experience a flat tire.”

Zick has since put the XGLA2 tires on the rest of the high-lift machines in his fleet, and is planning to buy XGLA2 tires for his larger tractors. The cost savings his fleet is experiencing from switching to Michelin radials is realized by the increased hours on his lifts, fewer flats and less downtime. “The XGLA2 is a quality tire and we haven’t had any problems with it,” Zick said. “Lift stability used to be a major concern, but the machines that lift materials six stories high aren’t having anymore issues. The drivers are also more comfortable and feel safe in the machines.”

Zick is particularly pleased with the sidewalls of the Michelin XGLA2 tires. They are more rigid and don’t sag as often as the bias-ply tires. A standard load on some of these machines is 3,000-5,000 pounds of brick and steel. Even when these machines are loaded down, the Michelin radials can handle the weight. “The Michelin product is more than satisfactory,” Zick said. “It is well worth the investment.”

 J. & E. Duff is an award-winning Brick Mason Contractor headquartered in West Chicago, Illinois. The company has been in business for nearly 70 years, and it is one of the largest Brick Mason Contractors in the U.S.