French postal service to trial Michelin Uptis airless tyres in European first

40 La Poste vans in Hauts-de-France will fit the puncture-proof tyre, the first product of its kind to roll under real-world conditions, by the end of 2024

Vans and last-mile delivery are a prime target for the Michelin Uptis due to its elimination of punctures (Photo: Michelin)

Van tyres are often required to withstand particular strains and pressures unusual to similar products designed for passenger cars. Their most common application in last-mile delivery services, as well as other tasks in which frequent stopping in urban areas leads to increased contact with the kerb and roadside debris, increases the importance of van tyres’ resistance to damage; downtime experienced due to tyre damage is a deflating experience for van operators, as their business often depends on efficient and timely arrivals. There are many tyre technologies on the market to resist damage and punctures, such as reinforced sidewalls and self-healing inner linings for the rubber, but tyre manufacturers have continued to develop the airless tyre as an optimal way of ensuring tyre damage does not dent operators’ businesses. The Michelin Uptis is the first tyre of its kind to hit the road, with nearly 50 DHL Express vans in Singapore fitting the product in 2023. Now French postal service La Poste will help the tyre take its European bow in real-world conditions, with 40 vans due to fit the Uptis in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France by the end of 2024.

Michelin says the tyre is particularly suited to last mile delivery, as its Uptis airless technology removes any risk of punctures and the associated premature changing of tyres. Nearly 40 La Poste vans delivering letters and parcels in the Lesquin, Valenciennes and Douai sectors will be fitted with the Michelin Uptis, whose tread will be based on the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate all-season van tyre, further promoting the extended mobility of the prototype with a pattern designed for year-round performance. The company will phase in the two-year partnership according to the framework detailed by Michelin. Three initial vehicles will be placed in service from 27 June in a first for France and Europe.

The Uptis prototype is a puncture-proof wheel and tyre assembly with no compressed air, intended for cars and light commercial vehicles. The compressed air has been replaced by Michelin’s revolutionary structure capable of supporting the vehicle. This ensures the strength of the assembly and guarantees driving comfort and safety. Michelin calls the Uptis an “off-the-peg solution that allows users to drive with peace of mind, without worrying about road hazards.”

A detailed shot of the structure inside the Michelin Uptis prototype tyre, with a tread based on Michelin’s Agilis CrossClimate all-season van tyre (Photo: Michelin)

What is the Michelin Uptis?

The Michelin Uptis prototype (Photo: Michelin)

Uptis stands for “Unique Puncture-proof Tyre System.” It is an airless tyre developed in association with Maxion Wheels, the supplier of a specific rim for the Uptis tyre. Any airless solution must still be approved for use on the open road. While waiting for this homologation, Michelin has obtained a waiver from the CNRV (Centre National de Réception des Véhicules [French National Vehicle Reception Center]) to drive on the only airless tyre currently in circulation on open roads, under real traffic conditions.

What benefits can La Poste expect during the trial? Michelin says the Uptis tyre will eliminate problems linked to tyre pressure and punctures, meaning La Poste will reduce downtime and maintenance operations on its fleet. As a result, Michelin argues, the company can ensure better continuity of its activities and services.

The concept of the Michelin Uptis also offers environmental benefits, the manufacturer says. The elimination of puncture and underinflation problems should reduce the number and frequency of tyre replacements, helping to minimise waste.

Michelin says light commercial fleets intended for professional use, and particularly deliveries by van, are the main target market for the Uptis prototype.

“We are particularly happy to collaborate with Michelin, whose know-how and innovations have been serving our mobility for more than a century,” says Philippe Dorge, deputy managing director of the La Poste Group in charge of the Services-Letters-Parcels branch. “We deliver letters and parcels throughout France, six days a week, with postmen and women who travel the equivalent of 50 times the circumference of the earth every day. We need reliable vehicles that offer total safety on the road, while limiting our environmental footprint. We are expecting performance and total peace of mind from the revolutionary Michelin Uptis tyres.”

“The Michelin Uptis tyre is a major innovation in the tyre sector and is a key step in the development of a fully sustainable tyre by 2050,” according to Bruno De Feraudy, director of OEM activities for the Michelin Group. “It is the result of some fifty patents in terms of tyre structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity to innovate in favour of a safer mobility that is kinder to the environment. We are delighted that La Poste, the biggest vehicle fleet in France with 50,000 vehicles, i.e., the biggest French company, has chosen the Michelin Uptis tyre.”

The Uptis is currently the only airless tyre in the world to travel on open roads, under real conditions, on three continents (Europe, Asia, North America). So far, the tyre has covered almost 3 million kilometres, Michelin adds.

(Photo: Michelin)