Michelin's Energy Saver X focusses on non-tread areas

By David Shaw, ERJ staff

Hanover, Germany -- Michelin has said

its new Energy Saver X truck tyre derives its fuel saving benefits

through improvements in the carcass, bead and sidewalls, rather than

the tread area. Andre Colom, technical director for truck tyres in

Europe said the company made great strides in tread compounds in its

previous generations of truck tyres. For the new product, Michelin

focussed on making the carcass and the other areas deliver better fuel

economy.

He said specifically that the tread in the new tyre still relies on natural rubber.

Colom

said the savings were made by making the carcass more elastic. This was

done through the use of some new compounds, but also through the use of

a new approach to the twist of the wires used to make the steelcord

bundles in the radial carcass construction.

He said this was one

of many developments which all contributed to improving the rolling

resistance of the tyre. Others included new compounds in the bead

filler area; the use of the 'Infinicoil' band around the periphery of

the tyre and other developments.