Company also expands regional line with new low profile tire
Michelin is so confident that customers running its new XDA Energy + will see fuel savings, they have backed the new drive tire with a $400 fuel savings limited guarantee and a limited retread guarantee.
The tire, now available, replaces the XDA Energy. Aimed at long haul dry van truckload and refrigerated operations, it is available in the 275/80R22.5 Load Range G size.
According to Adam Murphy, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, a fleet running the XDA Energy + tire will save $400 per year, per truck, versus competitive tires, and achieve a 7% improvement in rolling resistance against a competitive tire. Combined with Michelin’s FuelSaver tread compound, the tire features ultra-low rolling resistance, he said.
If a fleet wishes to test the new tire, Michelin will offer to run a baseline test for the fleet using its current tires. After the baseline is set, the new XDA Energy + will be installed and fuel economy will be measured for three months, Murphy explained. At the end of that time, if a fleet has not seen a fuel savings, Michelin will refund the fleet $400 per vehicle using the tire.
The XDA Energy + features wide circumferential grooves for efficient water evacuation and grooved, angled walls to help resist stone retention that can lead to stone drilling that potentially damages the casing. The sidewall also features TW6 OzoneShield technology for increased protection against weathering.
The tire features a durable Michelin casing capable of supporting multiple retreads that are part of the company’s 7/7/3 manufacturer’s limited casing guarantee. This includes coverage against defects in workmanship and materials for 700,000 miles, seven years or three retreads from the date of manufacture when retreaded by an authorized Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) dealer.
“This is giving fleets the confidence that they are not only getting the first life out of the tire, but they are getting multiple lives out of that tire,” Murphy said during a press briefing at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta.
Michelin also rolled out a new size in its X Multi D portfolio. The 275/80R22.5 low-profile size is designed for regional fleets, particularly those in less-than-truckload, pickup-and-delivery, food and beverage and other vocational segments.
“These are segments of the market that are really growing,” noted Murphy.
The new size expands the Multi D line that was launched in July. The line replaced the XDE M/S and produces an amazing 65% more mileage than the previous line, Murphy said. It also provides great traction in all weather conditions, getting up to speed 80% faster in snow than competitive tires, he added.