WATERVILLE, N.S. – Michelin North America says it will invest $92 million CDN to install production for Michelin’s revolutionary X One wide single truck tires at its Waterville, N.S. plant. The expansion will double Michelin’s total X One tire capacity and will add about 75 new jobs to be phased in as the project progresses.

The move makes Waterville the second largest truck tire manufacturing plant in Michelin’s global network. The province has also made a commitment of $10.8 million.

New amendments in VW&D laws may open the
door wider for wide-based tires like the X-One

“This investment and the assignment of the X One tire production to Waterville is a testament to the skills of our people and their ability to deliver and remain competitive in the global tire market,” said Grant Ferguson, plant manager of Michelin’s Waterville Facility. “Investing in our plant helps to ensure long-term competitiveness, future employment and continued economic support for our community.”

Michelin’s plans for expansion include new equipment and additional technical and manufacturing employees related to the production of X One wide single tires.

The growing success of the X One tire line in the marketplace is a key driver in this expansion, says the company. The move benefits not only Michelin’s Waterville facility, but also its other Nova Scotia plants through increased activity and synergies. Michelin’s Bridgewater facility will provide wire products and its Granton facility will provide rubber materials for the new production.

The X One tires replace dual tires with one wide single tire, converting 18-wheel tractor-trailer rigs to 10-wheelers. When used in both drive and trailer positions, X One tires can save 4 to 10 percent in fuel costs and increase payloads from 800 to 1,300 pounds, the company says.

As Today’s Trucking reported in an exclusive story recently, acceptance of the wide-base tire in Canada is starting to take root. Previously, thanks to outdated weight and dimension laws, wide based tires — or “super singles” as they’re commonly referred to — were only economical in Quebec on U.S.-dedicated equipment and in Ontario on 42-foot trailers.

Recently, Ontario harmonized with Quebec and moved up to 8,000 kg for wide-base tires on 53-ft tandem trailers for U.S.-bound loads. While most of the rest of the country is handcuffed at 6,000 kg per axle, there’s noise that the Atlantic Provinces — starting with New Brunswick — and B.C. may soon follow suit.

Danfreight System, a Joliette Que.-based carrier that operates 50 reefer units solely to the U.S., is a 100-percent single-tire fleet. Known as one of the most innovative fleets in Quebec, Danfreight has been testing and using X-Ones since 2001.

President Daniel Bérard concludes that a fuel-efficiency improvement “far beyond” the 4-percent Michelin claims is attainable with the X-One and top maintenance practices. He also cites noise reduction, superior stability, and driver comfort as added bonuses with both makes of single tires.

“The test period is over. It’s time for a regulation that will allow us to use wide-base tires without restrictions and to harmonize their usage,” says Bérard.

For more on wide-based tires in Canada click on the link “Make It A Single” below.