Global tyre giant Michelin to launch a new highway truck tyre into the Australian market this year.
Michelin says its new “X Line Energy Z” highway tyre is due to arrive in Australia in the second half of 2014.
In Michelin terminology the “Energy” refers to the tyre being low rolling resistance (LRR), and therefore fuel-saving.
The tyre is designed for long distance trucks, which are best suited to LRR tyres.
Its size will be 295/80R22.5. In international tyre lingo that means the tyre is 295mm wide from sidewall to sidewall; the aspect ratio is 80, meaning the height is 80 per cent of the width; it’s a radial ply tyre; and the rim is 22.5 inches in diameter.
Michelin says the tyre can be used on all positions.
“The X Line Energy Z will meet the needs of customers looking to maximize the value of their tyre through long first life mileage, multiple retreads and fuel savings,” the company says.
The company says the new tyre will retain the “long mileage benefit” of its predecessor, the XZA2+ Energy. However, rolling resistance has apparently been lowered further and retreadability improved.
For these reasons Michelin says cost per kilometre (CPK) has been reduced, however a purchase price has not been nominated at this stage.
It says compared with the predecessor XZA2+, the new tyre offers a 20 per cent improvement in crown impact resistance.
The “crown” is basically the tread area. Its improved impact resistance is attributed to an upgrade to an 18 ply rating design with a full width crown ply.
Michelin also claims that road handling will be improved through increased
stability of the contact patch on the road due to the rigid crown ply structure.
“In addition the robust casing design improves the casing integrity resulting in a reduction of the sudden pressure loss,” it says.
Michelin says the new product will use the company’s recent truck tyre naming and sidewall marking system.
“The change is in response to confusion from customers over which tyre they should be running for which application,” it says.
The truck tyre line-up is now divided into five segments:
- Michelin X Line: specially designed for long-haul use on freeways and other major roads. The new “X Line Energy Z” is one of these.
- Michelin X Multi, designed for both short and long-haul use on all types of roads.
- Michelin X Works, for a variety of situations on roads, in and around worksites, and in quarries.
MichelinX InCity, for use on city and suburban streets. - Michelin X Force, designed for civilian and military vehicles driven mainly on rough or unpaved surfaces.
Check out the April edition of ATN for more on tyres and wheels. Get your copy here.