ERJ staff report (DS)
Berlin, Germany -- Michelin has developed a truck tyre in size 385 / 60 R22.5 which can carry 11 percent more weight than a conventional tyre in the same size. The significance of this is that four of these tyres on each of two axles can replace four conventional tyres on each of three axles, so leading to a significant saving in weight.
A spokesman for Michelin said each tyre is around 10 percent heavier than its conventional equivalent, but overall, the package saves up to 50 kg in terms of the hardware associated with the axle.
Michelin said the increase has been achieved by using steelcord of a higher tensile strength. Furthermore, the increased strength is use only in places where it is necessary, such as the shoulders and sidewall, rather than the main tread area. The spokesman sai the tyre also uses some technologies from the Michelin Durable Technologies portfolio.
The tyre is still in prototype stage, but can be ready for commercialisation within a couple of years, he said.
