Longer lasting single
Page 12
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• Michelin has introduced a new, wide single semi-trailer tyre which, it claims, will resist severe tri-axle bogie scrubbing wear.
The new tyre has an XZA. five-groove tread pattern and is available in one size only, 385/65 R 22.5, the metric equivalent of the more familiar 15 R 22.5.
Dimensionally the new tyre is precisely the same, and therefore interchangeable with, the existing Michelin wide single with XZZ tread pattern.
Revised casing design and tread compounds and the broad tread pattern will give the XZA wide single greater resistance to scrubbing wear and generally longer tread life, says the tyre company.
It will not say how much greater tread life operators can expect, but is confident that the XZA's 8% higher price than the XZZ can be justified. The recommended retail price of a 385/65 R 22.5 XZA is £519.60.
Severe tyre wear, mainly due to scrubbing when cornering, on the first and third axles of tri-axle semi-trailers has sent many operators' tyre costs rocketing since the 38tonne limit became effective three years ago. Some operators whose vehicles regularly have to turn in confined spaces report trailer tyre life as low as 20,000 km.