Michelin Earthmover unveiled the Michelin XDR2 tire for severe mining and quarry applications. The tire — designed for rigid dump trucks — offers up to 20 percent more tread life than its predecessor, the Michelin XDR tire and is available in a 27R49 size. Additional sizes will be available later in the year.

“The best has gotten better,” said Luc Minguet, president of Michelin Earthmover Tires worldwide. “The XDR tire is the benchmark on haul trucks in quarries around the world, and has been for many years. This new XDR2 tire builds on that foundation to deliver even more productivity, better performance and unquestioned value, all leading to a lower total cost of tire operation.”

In addition to the increased tread life, the XDR2 tire also delivers up to a 10 percent thicker undertread between the protective plies and tread base for better cut and impact resistance. With a new self-cleaning tread pattern, the XDR2 tire combines full-depth blocks, a 13 percent larger central lug (compared to XDR tire) and the new non-directional design to provide increased protection against aggressions and cut separations. The evolving tread design provides an increased contact patch as the tire wears, while sculptured cooling vents help keep running temperatures low, according to the manufacturer.

The XDR2 tire also incorporates Michelin’s C2 Technology in the casing to provide an overall cooler operating temperature to maximize the potential life of the tire without compromising operating speed or load carrying capacity. Compared to the XDR tire, the steel protective plies are 60 percent stronger to provide a significant improvement in shielding the tire against aggressions and separations. The XDR2 tire also provides twice the sidewall thickness of the previous generation to resist cuts and abrasions.

The XDR2 tire underwent more than 2 million hours of real-world testing at Michelin’s Almeria, Spain, proving grounds — the only dedicated earthmover tire testing center in the world — as well as numerous other challenging environments and sites across the globe. The extensive testing aided the development of the tire to provide an overall balance of performance characteristics, including longer tread life, improved damage resistance and greater environmental consciousness through raw material conservation, according to the manufactuer.

The XDR2 tire also demonstrates Michelin’s commitment to conserving natural resources by using advanced design techniques to use nearly 10 percent less materials than the leading competitive 49-inch OTR tire. The reduction in materials used means fewer materials need to be recycled, and the lighter tire weight also provides additional fuel savings. The tires are produced in ISO 14001 certified facilities and are free of aromatic oils.

Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases.

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs more than 21,400 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

For more information, visit www.michelinearthmover.com.

This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.

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