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New 4x4 response service to switch to Maxxis?

Monday, March 30, 2009

A newly launched volunteer organisation that works alongside Emergency Planning Officers and provides logistical support to the emergency services, local authorities and GPs in the event of severe weather conditions and emergency situations, is considering switching its vehicle fleet to Maxxis 4x4 tyres.

4x4 Response Wales is currently trialling the Maxxis Bravo all-terrain tyre after Grouptyre, the country’s leading independent tyre wholesaler and exclusive distributor of Maxxis 4x4 tyres in the UK, agreed to supply a test set of tyres for evaluation purposes.

“Our members are currently using a variety of tyres, including premiums brands like BFGoodrich, but we have heard good things about Maxxis and, pending a positive evaluation, we are seriously contemplating switching,” says 4x4 Response Wales co-ordinator Mark Margetts.

“Since our team of volunteers use and maintain their own vehicles, they are very interested in a brand of tyre which is robust, absolutely reliable and affordable, and we are most grateful to Grouptyre for giving us this opportunity to see just what Maxxis can do.”

4x4 Response Wales is part of a national 4x4 response network, of which there are 15 groups throughout the UK, and can be called upon at short notice to provide appropriate logistical support. These groups work with existing search and rescue organisations when they require extra 4x4 vehicles to transport equipment or personnel, and get involved in cleaning up programmes and humanitarian work. Several members assisted with Operation Aquarius, delivering bottled water to residents in Gloucestershire following the 2007 floods.

When a team established in Powys in 2006 grew to 120 members, it was the catalyst for the formation of 4x4 Response Wales. The new group has applied to the Welsh Assembly Government for a grant to train volunteers and provide essential equipment, such as recovery ropes and shackles, blankets and fire extinguishers, and is aiming to swell its membership base to around 250 by the end of this year.

Members include HGV drivers, IT consultants, farmers and sales representatives and require no previous off-road experience because all volunteers undergo training and assessment in the Radnor Forest to bring them up to responder status. They also learn first aid, the safe use of recovery equipment and basic survival skills.

4x4 Response Wales is currently talking to the police and fire services about the kind of support it can offer them and is conducting training for the Red Cross, which recently took delivery of 110 Land Rovers.

Maxxis prides itself on offering one of the largest ranges of off-road, on/off-road and road going tyres in the UK, including the biggest complete range to fit Land Rover 16 inch rims and more extreme patterns like the Buckshot Mudder (MT-754), Creepy Crawler (M-8090) and Trepador Radial (M-8060).

For further information on Maxxis 4x4 tyres contact Grouptyre on 0844 8112957 or visit www.grouptyre.co.uk or www.maxxis.co.uk

Find out more about 4x4 Response Wales at www.4x4responsewales.org