Michelin North America Inc. celebrated the sale of its one millionth X One wide-base truck tire yesterday, Sept. 30, during a special event in Greenville, S.C.
"This significant milestone -- along with the breadth of wide single products we offer -- proves that the X One tire is now a mainstream solution for fleet customers," said Francois Corbin, COO of Michelin Americas Truck Tires.
The X One was introduced in 2000. Since then, the line has grown to encompass seven products, including the Michelin X One XDA Energy, which was unveiled last March.
During the event, which was attended by numerous trucking fleet representative, Michelin officials revealed that X One sales are up 50% over 2009 numbers, year-to-date.
They also touted the X One's fuel-efficient properties. "Since 2000, with X One tires, fleets have gained up to 10% in fuel efficiency, resulting in more than 63 million gallons of fuel saved. This translates into 639,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions that did not enter the atmosphere."
"Seven or eight years ago, it was a challenge (for fleets) to decide to put these products on a truck," said Corbin. "It's not as difficult of a decision today. The X One is no longer a niche product."
In addition to presentations at Michelin headquarters in Greenville, the Sept. 30 celebration included a tour of the tiremaker's Spartanburg, S.C., plant, where X Ones are produced, plus a coastdown event at Michelin proving grounds in Laurens, S.C.
Fleet officials shared their thoughts about the X One with www.moderntiredealer.com at the proving grounds.
Bruce Stockton, vice president of maintenance for Con-way Truckload in Joplin, Mo., said his company is running X Ones on all of its 2,700 tractors. "We'll be 75% X One on all of our trailers by the end of the year. We typically don't gross out (in weight), but trucks, in general, have gotten heavier."
Using X Ones, he explained, allows Con-way to save about 100 lbs. of weight per wheel position.
Ron Szapacs, maintenance specialist , power vehicles, with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. in Allentown, Pa., also began using the X One because of the tire's weight saving benefits. "We haul liquid oxygen, nitrogen, etc. We load everything on our scale.
"We're phasing the X One in gradually. We're even retreading them" through Bethlehem, Pa.-based Service Tire Truck Centers, a Michelin Retread Technologies Inc. retreader.
