The new MICHELIN X®TRA DEFEND is a premium E4 deep tread tyre which has improved levels of damage resistance and reliability, whilst maintaining a better TKPH level compared to its competitors. Produced for ADTs (Articulated Dump Trucks) with payloads between 25 and 45 tons, it has been specifically designed with improved robustness to minimise damage and machine downtime and offer 15% more tyre life to optimise operating costs.
Operators choose to use ADTs because of their versatility and Michelin’s new range tries to meet the challenges and requirements of an E4 ADT tyre in all applications and conditions. The MICHELIN X®TRA DEFEND is designed to perform and improve productivity in both the harsh aggressive environments of mines and quarries and is equally at home in the high speed/high cycle activities of construction and public works.
The product takes its name from the enhanced robustness and damage resistance. These are the result of 15% thicker sidewalls and of the increased casing resistance to penetrations, with the MICHELIN X®TRA DEFEND capable of driving over a 172mm spike without sustaining a puncture – 16mm more than its premium competitors.
Having improved the robustness and strength of the casing and with 15% thicker sidewalls, this ‘protective shield’ for the tyre allows the tread depth of the tyre to be increased. The 29.5 R 25 X®TRA DEFEND tread pattern is 65mm deep; 5 mm more than the X-Super TERRAIN+, and the overall volume of rubber used in the tread has been increased by 17% compared to the X-Super TERRAIN+; both these improvements lead to a 15% increase in tyre life. Despite these improvements to the tyre, ADT productivity – maximising speed and load carried has not been impacted: the TKPH of the new tyre is the same as the previous generation, and higher than its competitors.
Michelin’s innovation and commitment to listening to customers and continually developing new improved high quality tyres is highlighted in the new MICHELIN X®TRA DEFEND tyre with its increased longevity and exceptional levels of damage resistance.
The product will be available in replacement markets in Q4 2017, and for original equipment specifications form Q1 2018. Additional sizes in the form of 26.5 R 25, 750/65 R 25 and 875/65 R 29 will also be released in 2018.
