Michelin off-road X Force range expands with launch of X Force ZL

Michelin’s new X Force ZL for military and civilian all-terrain trucks boast the highest tyre load-carrying capacity on the market. The product, suitable for such vehicles as airport fire tenders, will therefore receive a significant payload advantage when fitting the deep tread tyres.

Designed for commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 7-13 tonnes, the new X Force ZL 335/80R20 tyres have a load capacity of 3,350kg per tyre – an increase of 775kg over the previous generation, and at least 100kg more than competing products, Michelin claims. The tyre allows payloads to increase by up to 400kg per vehicle, without compromising the tyres’ speed rating of up to 68mph (110kph). The tyre is designed for challenging off-road conditions faced by forestry, utility and fire services.

The tyre range’s high damage resistance capabilities have also been further enhanced with a new casing construction and reinforced crown area, while a series of 1mm-deep trapezoidal blocks in the shoulder and sidewall give additional support and protection. All this has been achieved without compromising casing flexibility, Michelin adds.

As the requirements of Euro VI emissions legislation leads to increased vehicle weight for civilian trucks, and military vehicles get heavier due to increased armour, operators have a considerable payload challenge to overcome, while still ensuring maximum mobility in extreme off-road conditions. Michelin states guaranteed mobility is essential in such applications, since immobilisation can be very costly.

The new X Force ZL meets all these challenges, providing runflat capabilities exceeding the military Finabel Test A20A protocol requirements, by achieving more than four hours of continued mobility and a distance of more than 62 miles.