Strategic capital goods

In this climate, more than ever, truck tires are proving to be strategic capital goods. Fuel at the current price accounts for 25% to 30% of the operating costs of a truck – up to 50% in China. And a 20% reduction in tire rolling resistance can bring down fuel consumption by 6% and the overall budget by 1%: a significant saving for an industry whose average operating margin only reaches 2% to 3%.

The durability of tires, as well as their capacity to be retreaded, are other fundamental performances, both in terms of economic impact and environmental consequences: when tires last longer, their cost per mile travelled decreases and fewer end-of-life tires need to be recovered. This is why Michelin is committed to providing its customers in the transportation industry with solutions that will allow them to reduce the overall cost of ownership of their tires while respecting the environment.

Michelin Durable Technologies: a revolution

Michelin Durable Technologies is an ensemble of patented innovations in tire tread design and architecture, offering unprecedented performances and responding to the productivity, safety and environmental challenges facing the road transportation sector:

- Mile after mile, the traditional tire becomes slick and loses grip. The Michelin Durable Technologies self-regenerating tread pattern features sipes with cylindrical, raindrop shaped grooves that create new channels when the tread is two-thirds worn. As a result, the tire recovers up to 30% grip!

- The three-dimensional “double wave” structure of sipes makes them more rigid, thereby improving the tire’s mileage and wear resistance by 25%.

- Infinicoil technology consists of a 400-meter steel cord wrapped beneath the tread, reinforcing rigidity and toughness. This technology makes it possible to develop different tires, wider and possibly with reduced diameters, which translates into several advantages: tire durability is increased by up to 50%; capacity is increased by up to 400 kg (880 lbs) per axle on tires with reduced diameter, providing increased loading volume; and up to 130 kg extra payload per drive axle thanks to the lighter weight of a MICHELIN X One tire compared to a twin-mount.

A wider tire for extra payload

The wide Michelin X One tire replaces classic twin-mount tires for drive and nondrive axles. With a saving of up to 600 kg for a complete North American tandem tractor trailer configuration, Michelin X One significantly increases the payload capacity and profitability of each load by saving around 5% more fuel than Michelin Energy twin-mounts and requiring fewer raw materials for their manufacturing.

Major innovations in 2008 and 2009

Since the MICHELIN XDN 2 Grip, which was in 2005 the first tire to benefit from the Michelin Durable Technologies in Europe, the Group has enhanced its offer by integrating new technological innovations and launching new products. Designed for trailers and semi-trailers, the MICHELIN X One MaxiTrailer tire was launched in Europe in 2007 and boasts a lifespan up to 50% longer and a greater load capacity than its predecessor.

The first use of Michelin Durable Technologies for steering axles, the MICHELIN X Energy 315/60 R 22.5 XF, offers a load-bearing capacity of 7.5 metric tons per axle, 7% lower rolling resistance than its predecessor and a 5% improved grip. In 2008, we developed the EnergyTM Flex heat-stable casing, which contributes to the remarkable energy-efficiency performances of the new Michelin X EnergyTM SaverGreen tire. The MICHELIN X MultiWay tire, also launched in 2008, is even more versatile thanks to more stress resistant rubber compounds, a new anti-stone trapping tread pattern, exceptional grip and up to 30% extra mileage.

The new MICHELIN XTE2 Semi-Trailer tire, introduced in 2009, is smaller and lighter than standard tires available in the South American market. It enhances productivity by increasing per-trip load and capacity.

Cost and environmental benefits of the truck tire’s four lives

Thanks to regrooving and retreading, it is possible to take advantage of the maximum durability potential of Michelin truck tires, with only moderate requirements for raw materialsand reduced additional costs. The principle is simple: at the end of its first life, the worn tread of the tire is regrooved with a heated grooving tool that makes it as good as new in terms of grip and offers a second life. Right from the design phase, Michelin provides for a sufficient thickness of rubber so that a quality regrooving can be performed, without the product’s toughness being altered. Regrooving gives the tire an extra 25% potential mileage and, compared to re-equipping with new tires, represents an average fuel saving of around 1.4 liters/100 km and up to 2 l/100 km for a tractor/semi-trailer combination used for long haulage.

Once the regrooved tire has also worn down, it can be retreaded for a third life. After being checked and prepared, the casings are given a new tread and new sidewalls. The reconstructed tire is then cured in a mold, where it is given its final tread pattern, and then undergoes quality checking. The Michelin RemiX retreading process guarantees performance levels identical to those of a new tire.

When the new tread is eventually worn down, the tire can again be regrooved and thus begins its fourth life. In all, this process means that new tires can last 2.5 times longer for an additional cost of 60% and with only 25% additional raw materials needed, as regrooving requires no further materials. This also leads to fewer end-of-life tires to be processed. In short, it is a genuine win-win process. Michelin can thus offer to road transportation professionals a solution that meets their expectations in terms of profitability, safety and environmental friendliness. The Michelin group is the main actor in the global retreading market with a 15% share of the market, which represents around 50% of the replacement market in volume.

Categories: Emissions - ICE vehicles - Vehicles

Keywords: Adherence - green tire - Tires - Transportation