The Michelin Group has added two tread patterns to its Tweel airless radial tyre. The new all-terrain design has a deep, open tread for off-road applications, and the hard surface design has greater wear life on pavement and asphalt.
Michelin says the 12N16.5 X Tweel SSL All Terrain is designed for more rugged off-road working conditions and will be a viable option for such industries as construction and landscaping. The a12N16.5 X Tweel SSL Hard Surface tyre, which provides more longevity on pavement and asphalt, presents an option for very high-use operations.
Michelin introduced the first commercially available airless radial tyres for skid steer loaders two years ago. The company says the revolutionary tyre offered a solution to the seemingly unavoidable challenge of chronic flat tyres that plague the millions of skid steer loaders relied upon by many commercial operations.
The company says the development of Tweel technology is significant since skid steer loaders equipped with traditional pneumatic tyres experience at least two or more flat tyres per month. To reduce flat-tyre downtime, many users use foam-filled, solid tyres or other alternatives that result in diminished traction, handling and ride comfort.
The 12N16.5 X TWEEL SSL provides the advantages of no air pressure maintenance, easy mounting, damage resistance, increased operator comfort, reduced operator fatigue, improved productivity and longer wear life than pneumatic tyres.
“Our newest versions of the 12N16.5 X Tweel SSL provide the benefits associated with pneumatic tyres, but they dont go flat. This is a breakthrough innovation for skid steers in the landscape, construction, contracting, refuse/recycling and agricultural industries,” says Ralph Dimenna, head of Michelin Tweel Technologies.
The All Terrain offers high strength, poly-resin spokes to carry the load, reduce machine bounce and provide excellent operator comfort. The spokes are engineered to be self-evacuating in muddy conditions. The tread is designed for maximum traction. The Hard Surface has a smooth tread with a 100% contact surface ratio which provides the maximum tread life for pavement applications.