Michelin Americas Releases Latest Addition to X ONE Range

Michelin Americas Truck Tyre – also known by the acronym ‘MATT’ – is celebrating the tenth year of the X One wide single truck tyre in its market area, and the company is gearing up for a second decade through the introduction of its most fuel-efficient tyre to date, the X One XDA Energy tyre. Michelin makes this claim following independent testing that showed the tyre to facilitate more than seven per cent better fuel efficiency that its competitors’ most fuel-efficient tyres.

The ‘3000 Mile Fuel Challenge’, a Michelin commissioned independent test carried out in February 2010, pitted the Michelin tyre against products from Bridgestone and Goodyear, with the three makers’ products fitted to otherwise identical tractor units and trailers. The Michelin truck was equipped with XZA3 steer tyres, the new X One XDA Energy drive tyres and X One XTA trailer tyres, the Bridgestone with R287, M720 and R195F tyres and the Goodyear with G395 LHS Fuel Max, G305 LHD Fuel Max and G316 LHT Fuel Max tyres. According to Michelin, the Michelin truck achieved 6.88 miles per gallon, demonstrating a 7.2 per cent efficiency advantage over the Bridgestone fitted truck and 8.3 per cent over the Goodyear vehicle.

“In an industry full of fuel-efficiency benefit claims, it’s clear that not all fuel-efficient tyres are created equal,” said Don Baldwin, MATT product marketing manager. “Some in the industry continue to say that wide-single technology – such as Michelin X One tyre technology – is designed for a niche market, but we continue to see more fleets in more segments switch to wide singles. We expect this trend to accelerate in the coming days.”

The X One XDA Energy is more fuel efficient, explains Michelin, due to its belt design and compounds used. A key component of the Michelin wide single tyre is ‘Infini-Coil Technology’, more than a quarter-of-a-mile of steel cord wrapped circumferentially around the crown of every X One tyre. The Infini-Coil, the manufacturer expounds, reduces casing growth and stabilises the contact patch, reducing irregular wear. The manufacturer adds that its ‘Matrix’ siping technology provides improved traction on dry and slippery surfaces.

“For long-haul truck fleet managers and owner-operators still sitting on the fence about wide-single tyres, now is the time to make the switch from traditional duals,” continued Baldwin. “The X One XDA Energy tyre is the most fuel-efficient drive tyre versus the leading North American competitors – hands down – and can help truck fleets save at least seven per cent in annual fuel costs when used with Michelin XZA3 steer tyres and X One XTA trailer tyres.”
 
The new tyre is available in the US in size 445/50R22.5, and will replace the Michelin X One XDA. Michelin says it will use its newly established social media outlets as part of the X One XDA Energy promotional campaign. Michelin pages on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will contain information and images of the new tyre and other product, along with industry events.