From the Matrix siping and raindrop-shaped grooves used on the XDA5 drive tire to the Infini-Coil Technology of the X One tires, Michelin Durable Technologies delivers performance to the trucking industry.
Michelin XDA5 Tire
The new XDA5 drive tire combines Matrix Siping Technology and Regenerating Tread Technology, key components of Michelin Durable Technologies. These features work to extend tread life and help to retain traction throughout the life of the tire.
The Michelin XDA5 tire is designed to last more than 30 percent longer than conventional radial drive tires. In addition to highly durable compounds, the tire also features a wider footprint, with a tread width more than 10 percent greater than its predecessor, for improved stability and long wear life.
Double-wave Matrix sipes give the tire’s 30/32 deep tread blocks the ability to lock together in all directions, delivering rigidity, resistance to scrub, and minimizing irregular wear normally associated with deep tread block designs, according to the manufacturer.
At the base of the Matrix siping, a raindrop-shaped groove is molded into the tread block that reveals a new rain groove when the tread has 10/32 remaining, a feature of regenerating tread. Due to this self-regenerating mechanism, the XDA5 tire offers renewed grip, enhanced worn traction, as well as more usable tread, which ultimately results in longer life.
Michelin is offering a guarantee to further demonstrate the long service life and performance of the XDA5 tire for tires purchased by December 31, 2007. If the new XDA5 tire doesn’t deliver at least a 30 percent increase in tire life compared to the tire it replaced, Michelin will credit back twice the amount of the price difference between the XDA5 tire and the original tire.
Michelin XDN2 Tire
The Michelin XDN2 drive tire incorporates design elements that eliminate the compromise typically made to deliver more grip for drivers.
“The XDN2 tire successfully combines the traction of individual sipes with the wear rate of solid tread blocks,” said Marc Laferriere, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Truck Tires.
“The full-depth sipes offer superb traction throughout the life of the tire, on not only dry, but also wet, snow and ice-covered surfaces. This all-season drive tire gets its edge from the sipes that run across the tread from edge-to-edge, delivering an increased number of ’biting’ edges and improved water and snow evacuation.”
The benefit of Matrix siping is that the individual tread blocks work together as a solid rib to deliver longer, more even wear. Matrix siping allows the tread blocks to function independently when needed, incorporating 1,300 biting edges for increased wet traction and excellent performance on hard packed snow and icy surfaces.
The versatile 27/32-in.-tread-depth tire is offered in 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 275/80R22.5, 275/80R24.5 and 12R22.5 sizes. It is available through Michelin commercial truck tire dealers.
Michelin X One XDA-HT PLUS Tire
The Michelin X One XDA-HT Plus drive tire is helping to save fuel for fleets and owner/operators in weight sensitive, long haul and regional operations, according to the manufacturer.
“The X One XDA-HT Plus tire offers weight savings of approximately 360 pounds per tractor,” said Laferriere.
“It is engineered to replace dual tires and has a longer original tread life than its predecessor, the X One XDA-HT, because of increased tread depth by 2/32-in. and a wider tread by 16 mm.”
Michelin’s Co-Ex dual compound technology offers a cooler running underneath for optimum retreadability and an application-specific compound on top for additional mileage. The tire has improved wet traction compared to the X One XDA-HT tire through optimized tread block distribution and 1 mm wider groove bottoms.
With a quieter running tread design due to optimized harmonic pitch frequency, the X One XDA-HT Plus tire also features reduced stone retention due to a new block shape with specially tapered groove walls. Just as in the other X One family members, the X One XDA-HT Plus tire features Michelin’s Infini-Coil Technology, which incorporates 0.25 mi. of steel cable to help eliminate casing growth at operating temperatures.
Michelin X One XTE Tire
The X One XTE trailer axle tire provides many of the same benefits as other X One tires in more of a regional environment. The tire is designed for high-scrub applications and delivers stability and resistance to uneven rib wear, helping to keep the X One XTE tire on the road longer.
It is offered in the 445/50R22.5 size in load range L. The tire also is available in a 455/55R22.5 size with an extra cut and chip resistant tread compound for more aggressive environments. Just as in the other X One family members, the X One XTE tire features Michelin’s Infini-Coil Technology, which incorporates 0.25 mi. of steel cable to help eliminate casing growth at operating temperatures.
XDA Hypersipe and X One Retreads
Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) offers a broad variety of retreading options, tread patterns and sizes of retreads for its tires, including the wide base single tires.
The Michelin XDA Hypersipe retread uses Michelin Durable Technologies’ regenerative tread design and siping technology to mold tread features on both the top and bottom of a Pre-Cure tread band. Sipes molded into the bottom of the tread appear as the tire wears, providing improved worn traction over the life of the retread.
The bottom sipes on the XDA Hypersipe retread appear at approximately half tread depth and last literally down to the last usable 32nd of tread — a feature that allows the retreaded tire to be removed from service later in life and also provides performance and savings benefits to the customer, according to the manufacturer.
Michelin Advantage Program
The Michelin Advantage Program is a new way of helping smaller fleets and owner/operators get greater tire value, better roadside service and helpful information. The three advantages of the program include the new Michelin Cash Back Advantage, the Michelin Truck Support Advantage and the Michelin Direct Information Advantage.
The Michelin Cash Back Advantage is offered via the Michelin Advantage Visa Card through an alliance with Chase Card Services, the credit card division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The Michelin Advantage Visa Card offers cash back with every purchase. Card members will earn 3 percent back on Michelin tire purchases and 1 percent on all other purchases, including fuel.
This card adds to the business owner’s bottom line with its low introductory rate, no annual fee and valuable business benefits.
A second service of the Michelin Advantage Program is the Michelin ONCall system, dedicated to ensuring that Michelin customers have every advantage, whether they are a large fleet, small fleet or owner/operator.
The ONCall program guarantees that a Michelin roadside service provider will arrive on-site within two hours or Michelin pays the dispatch fee. Pricing for products and services is set at a predetermined rate. This means that there is no guesswork and no surprises. An added feature of the program is that the service is monitored online with instant visibility of each work order.
The third service of the Michelin Advantage Program, Michelin Direct Information Advantage, supplies access to the Michelin business-to-business portal (www.michelinb2b.com), an online resource to help improve the way members operate. The site provides valuable information on a broad range of subjects, including tire maintenance software tools, fuel modeling, access to the Michelin ONCall system’s online dispatch/case management, information on Michelin new products and services and training videos.
For more information, visit www.michelintruck.com.
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