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MIXED SERVICE TYRES
CM 997: Westlake’s Mixed Service Solution
The CM 997 is Westlake’s solution for on-off road applications. Featuring rugged tread blocks and tread design, the CM 997 offers excellent performance on mining, logging and construction sites. Meanwhile, a tough, high-tear compound in the tread helps resist chipping and chunking. The tyre is available in 295/80 R 22.5 in 150/147L and 152/149L service indices.
Premium Tyre Outlasts Budget Cross Ply Sevenfold in Skid Steer Applications
A civil engineering company in County Londonderry has claimed that the premium radial tyres it has fitted to its skid-steer loaders will outlast seven cross-ply tyres from some of its cheaper rivals. RT Boyd
runs a fleet of three skid-steer loaders, which operate from 8.30am till 4.30pm daily, working on the company’s road maintenance contracts around Northern Ireland.
The company found that the cross-ply tyres which are commonly fitted as original equipment on new machines often need replacing within just weeks, particularly during warm summer conditions when tyre wear increases. But Managing Director Robert Boyd has overhauled the fleet and is now specifying all loaders be fitted with Michelin’s BibSteel Hard Surface tyres, as wear dictates. Since the first BibSteel Hard Surface tyres entered service last year he has been delighted with the results.
Boyd said: “For a while we were replacing the cross-ply tyres with like-for-like rubber, but we found it simply doesn’t make financial or operational sense to buy a cheap cross-ply tyre and keep replacing it.
We found the back tyres were lasting about three weeks and the front tyres only a little longer.
“On one Bobcat machine a Michelin tyre has outlasted seven tyres from one of the cheaper brands. We’ve just ordered eight new BibSteel Hard Surface tyres from our local Michelin specialist, JB Tyres, and will be continuing to fit them across the fleet.”
The Michelin BibSteel Hard Surface tyre is specially-designed for skid- steer loaders and is manufactured for machines working on asphalt and other hard abrasive surfaces. The tyre features a steel casing and steel belts for outstanding puncture resistance and the long-life tread design ensures excellent performance and manoeuvrability on hard and smooth surfaces.
JB Tyres - based in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, is one of the largest agricultural and plant-tyre specialists within Michelin’s Exelagri dealer network.
Michelin Show Downtime Reductions in Timber Applications
MultiWay 3D XZE and X Works XZY fitments on the steer axles and XDY3 Remix and XDE2 Remix tyres on the drive axles. The tractor tag axle has also been upgraded to Michelin XF2 385/65 R 22.5 rubber.
Sheffield & Co. boss John Sheffield says: “If you have a breakdown in the forest, you’ve got to have a callout, and we were losing a lot of time before we began working with Michelin on CTI systems and new tyre sizes. The change to Michelin’s products has virtually eliminated
tyre-related downtime for our fleet, despite the fact we spend so much time off-road.
“We’ve also noticed vast improvements in tyre life,” Sheffield says. “We’ve got some original X One MaxiTrailer tyres on one trailer after more than 100,000 miles, which is far better than the competitor tyres we were previously fitting. I always say a cheap tyre is only cheap when you purchase it. If you have a problem, then it becomes an expensive tyre.”
Southwaite-based timber harvesting, marketing and haulage company Sheffield & Co. Ltd. has reduced the frequency of annual tyre-related breakdowns from 35 to just two. Its tyres are also lasting longer after working with Michelin Technical Manager Dan Lamb to adopt a bespoke tyre policy, with different pressures tailored for on- road and forestry work.
Michelin began consulting with the company in March 2011 as Sheffield & Co. began installing Tireboss Central Tyre Inflation (CTI) devices on its fleet of four 44-tonne combinations. These flexible systems are linked to the vehicle’s air system and allow truck and trailer tyre pressures to be altered by up to 85psi at the touch
of a button.
Michelin recommended a switch from running 385/65 R 22.5 wide singles and 275/70 R 22.5 twinned-wheels on Sheffield & Co.’s tri-axle and drawbar trailers to Michelin’s 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyre, which gives a larger footprint and can be deflated to lower pressures on demanding forestry roads to increase damage resistance, longevity, and reduce wear and tear to the forest tracks. On Sheffield & Co.’s single tractor unit and three six wheel rigids, Michelin recommended a change from 295/80 R 22.5 tyres to larger 315/80 R 22.5 fitments on steer and drive axles. In this new size the tractor and six-wheelers are running a combination of X
28 Commercial Tyre Business