New mining/quarry tire from Michelin

March 25, 2011

Michelin Earthmover, a subsidiary of Michelin North America Inc., has unveiled the Michelin XDR2 tire for severe mining and quarry applications.

The tire – designed for rigid dump trucks – offers up to 20% more tread life than its predecessor, the Michelin XDR tire. Introduced at ConExpo-Con/Agg, the XDR2 tire is available in a 27R49 size. Additional sizes will be available later in the year.

“The best has gotten better,” says Luc Minguet, president of Michelin Earthmover Tires worldwide. “The XDR tire is the benchmark on haul trucks in quarries around the world, and has been for many years. This new XDR2 tire builds on that foundation to deliver even more productivity, better performance and unquestioned value, all leading to a lower total cost of tire operation.”

In addition to the increased tread life, the XDR2 tire delivers up to a 10% thicker undertread between the protective plies and tread base. This provides better cut and impact resistance, says Michelin. With a new self-cleaning tread pattern, the XDR2 tire combines full-depth blocks, a 13% larger central lug (compared to the XDR tire) and a new non-directional design to provide increased protection against aggressions and cut separations. The evolving tread design provides an increased contact patch as the tire wears, while sculptured cooling vents help keep running temperatures low.

Michelin says the XDR2 tire also incorporates the company’s C2 Technology in the casing. C2 provides an overall cooler operating temperature to maximize the potential life of the tire without compromising operating speed or load carrying capacity. Compared to the XDR tire, the steel protective plies are 60% stronger to provide an improvement in shielding the tire against aggressions and separations. The XDR2 tire also provides twice the sidewall thickness of the previous generation to resist cuts and abrasions.

For more information, visit www.michelinearthmover.com.