Michelin North America Inc. has unveiled its next generation mining tire for 250-ton rigid dump trucks – the Michelin XDR 250+. The tire offers an improved tire life over its predecessor, the tiremaker says.
The new Michelin XDR 250+ provides improved wear resistance, optimized wear and increased aggression resistance, Michelin says; it is available in size 50/80R57.
The tiremaker says the new version improves wear resistance and increases tire life by 8%1 for MB4 and MB compounds, with no tradeoff in ton-miles per hour (TMPH).
"With rigid dump trucks playing such a critical part of open-pit-mining operations, the tires are key to meeting mine profitability targets through lower operating costs," says Sarah Robinson, mining marketing manager for Michelin North America. "As our most productive surface mining tire for 250-ton trucks, the XDR 250+ tire provides up to 15% more TMPH for the MB and MB4 compounds versus the competition2."
This tire for rigid dump trucks includes these upgrades:
- It incorporates the second generation of two compounds, MB4 and MB1, that provide improved wear resistance. Using a new mixing process "with a superior level of carbon black dispersion creates a much more homogeneous mix that leads to a slower wear rate."
- The tire's multi-layer technology provides optimized wear on front and rear axles. The outer layer is optimized for front axles for the first cycle of the tire’s life while the inner layer is optimized for rear axles for the second cycle. Tires are designed to be rotated to the rear axles to increase tire life.
- With an optimized contact patch, Michelin says there is increased aggression resistance due to lower tire pressure for the same load capacity compared to the Michelin XDR 250. Less pressure on ground provides an improved wear profile and protects the equipment.
