Michelin Ups Load Rating with New MegaXBib Fitment

An October global launch is planned for the latest size in Michelin’s MegaXBib range. The new 800/70R32 tyre, intended for large and heavy harvesting machines, comes with a 181 A8/B load rating. Michelin states this load rating is the highest of any tyre produced using conventional technology and thus offers a higher rating than any currently available tyre with the exception of Michelin’s own CerexBib, which is produced using the company’s ‘Ultraflex’ technology. This increased tyre load capacity has become a key requisite in the development of new, higher-performance harvesters, comments Michelin.

To increase the tyre’s load capacity and robustness, Michelin has integrated metal plies into the crown in order to increase resistance to fatigue caused by heavy loads, helping to improve productivity and lower operating costs while reducing the risks of vehicle downtime and shortened tyre life due to breakage. At the same time, the new 800/70R32 MegaXBib is also designed to provide greater resistance to stubble damage. As Michelin explains, corn, soybean and sunflower stalks can damage tyres, either gradually through erosion or, especially in cornfields, through piercing. To address this problem, Michelin’s technicians have redesigned the tyre’s tread and shoulders; the shape and angle of the lugs has been reworked and the shoulders enhanced with a new structure.

While the French manufacturer has not specifically announced any OEM homologations for the size 800/70R32 MegaXBib, original equipment sales appear to be a strong priority. Upon announcing the tyre’s launch, Michelin notes that its launch “is in line with the group’s strategy of helping equipment manufacturers and farmers improve productivity and lower farm operating costs.”