Michelin North America Inc. is updating its Tweel options for skid steers, with airless tires designed for rocky, all-terrain applications and for hard surfaces. The Michelin X Tweel SSL 2 AT and Tweel SSL 2 HST in size 12N16.5 will be available Aug. 1 in the United States and Canada. They are Michelin’s first embedded 8-bolt hub that is interlocked mechanically to increase durability.
“The new Tweel SSL 2 maintains all of the key benefits of the first generation version," says Justin Brock, Michelin's marketing manager for the construction and Tweel segment for North America. "In addition, it is designed to improve robustness, meet the vigorous demands placed on skid steer tires in a variety of applications. The new features include a mechanical hub connection versus the chemical adhesion used in the first generation.”
The Tweel SSL 2 is designed with:
- improved shear beam construction that maximizes core life;
- new spoke formulation which provides up to 10 times greater spoke life; and
- a maximum load of 4,400 pounds.
“The SSL 2 AT is designed for use in off-road applications where the machine is used 80% of the time off-road. The HST is built for work done on hard surfaces such as asphalt and pavement,” says Brock. The X Tweel SSL 2 requires no air, and thus eliminates the risk of a flat tire, allowing users to stay in operation with limited downtime to maximize profitability. Michelin says the X Tweel SSL delivers plenty of other advantages for users:
- easy mounting,
- damage resistance,
- operator comfort,
- reduced operator fatigue,
- improved productivity, and
- longer wear life than standard pneumatic tires.
The Tweel SSL 2 HST is constructed with a 48/32nd-inch tread depth with 8/32nd-inch of undertread. The Michelin 12N16.5 X Tweel SSL 2 AT is built with a 31/32nd-inch tread depth with 12/32nd-inch of undertread. The outer core tread can be retreaded multiple times for an effective overall cost of ownership. Both options come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
For more information, visit www.MichelinTweel.com.
