New Michelin loader tire builds on construction applications
Michelin has introduced another size for its XHA2 loader tire. The 23.5R25 is designed for construction equipment used on infrastructural and utility jobs.
“We’ve seen great success for the XHA2 tire in its quarry size that became available in May,” notes Roger Lucas, vice president of sales and marketing for Michelin’s Earthmover line.
“Quarries, and some construction sites, around the world are already experiencing the capabilities of this tire. With this new size, even more equipment for construction sites, government projects, infrastructure sites and utility work will now be able to benefit from the many advantages that the XHA2 tire offers,” he says.
The tire is aimed at accomplishing three goals: Reducing hourly operating costs, ensuring that work continues smoothly and safely and improving operator working conditions, according to Lucas.
The 23.5R25 joins the 26.5R25 size that became available in May. Two remaining sizes are scheduled to be introduced in 2010 – the 29.5R25 and 20.5R25.
Lucas says the increased durability of the XHA2 allows vehicles to remain up and running, which keeps the site’s productivity high. To achieve this result, the company integrated three technologies into the tire:
Additional rubber has been incorporated in the tread, making the tire even more damage-resistant.
The sidewalls have been strengthened with a special protective rib and anti-scrape shields.
The company has developed a sidewall rubber compound that resists expansion of cuts and splits into the air chamber to help reduce costly flats.
Lucas reports that the XHA2 lasts at least 5 percent longer than its XHA predecessor, adding that “its superior traction helps get the job done faster.”
A tread that’s 9 percent deeper compared to the XHA “improves traction and makes the tire self-cleaning – expelling earth caught between tread blocks – while reducing temporary losses of grip. This optimized traction reduces rolling resistance and therefore fuel consumption.”
He goes on to explain that the tire’s patented tread design “dramatically reduces vibrations that can be felt by operators and damage mechanical components. Additionally, the tire reduces the vibrations caused by heavy loads and frequent changes of direction thanks to its larger contact patch.”
The casing further enhances the new tire’s value, Lucas says. “This robust underlying structure makes the tire easier to retread, thereby generating additional cost-savings for companies. It also benefits society as a whole since a retread tire produces less waste and requires fewer raw materials.”
For more information, visit www.michelinearthmover.com.