Michelin has introduced two tires designed specifically for use on waste industry vehicles, the XZU S and the X One XZU S.

“We have been supplying tires for waste industry trucks for many years, but these are the very first tires we designed specifically for use on waste vehicles that collect refuse and transport it to landfills or transfer stations,” said Michael Burroughes, product portfolio manager, Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “The new X One XZU S and the 315/80R22.5 XZU S are the first and only tires designed and produced by any tire company solely for waste vehicles.”

The XZU S tire is now available in 315/80R22.5 load range L size. It offers improvement in tread wear ranging from 10% to 40% (when compared to Michelin 315/80R22.5 XZY-2S LRL), depending on the vehicle configuration and application of use. It also includes an increased maximum speed capability of 65 mph, which will improve efficiency and productivity for waste companies. This higher speed capability is made possible by the use of co-extruded tread compounds that include a high scrub resistant compound developed specifically for urban service such as waste vehicles with a profiled and cooler second layer of tread rubber beneath. Thus dual compounding significantly lowers operating temperatures in the tread area with no compromise on performance or durability.

“The new Michelin XZU S tires have more than doubled bead durability compared to traditional tires and deliver increased sidewall protection through increased rubber thickness and a new optimized sidewall profile,” claimed Burroughes, citing internal Michelin testing.

Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) will introduce a Pre-Mold retread product for the XZU S tire in the third quarter of 2004 in both all position (XZU S) and lug (XDU S) designs. The new MRT retread products will supply increased removal miles compared to competitors’ retreads and reduced fuel consumption because of lower rolling resistance, it is claimed.

The new X One XZU S, size 455/ 55R22.5 load range M, is the first X One technology tire designed for use in a specific vocation. The X One new generation wide single tire, with Infinicoil technology, has been previously used only in over-the-road trucking segments. “We are using the Infinicoil technology in this new waste industry tire because of its inherent strength of construction and the other qualities it offers,” said Burroughes.

Burroughes said the X One XZU S tire would be available no later than the first quarter of 2005. It offers an increased load capability of 11,700 lbs. per tire and reduced fuel consumption because of its lower rolling resistance. “The X One XZU S tire increases payload because of the reduced unsprung weight, improves driver comfort and vehicle stability while simplifying tire billing errors; and the eTire System, a tire life cycle management tool that monitors tire air pressures automatically.

For more details visit www.michelin.com