Michelin North America is launching a high-performance bias tyre, Michelin Pilot, a tyre designed for propeller-driven aircraft to provide extra-long tyre life, exceptional tread life and all-weather protection.
Commenting on the launch, Robert Sevener, global lead for Michelin general aviation tyres said: “The Michelin Pilot offers state-of-the-art features for piston and turbo-prop applications, and reflects Michelin’s proven history of developing ultra-high-performance tires.” He added: “Our customers want a deep tread to achieve more landings and a lighter tyre to improve fuel efficiency and increase range. The new Pilot tyre provides both in this aircraft sector.”
The Michelin Pilot is designed to have extra-long tyre life as a result of an improved carcass construction that delivers increased durability and improved resistance to foreign object damage. The tyre incorporates the latest high-technology ozone-resistant compounds into the sidewall rubber. The natural contour-mould profile promotes casing equilibrium for improved footprint-pressure distribution in the contact patch. By significantly improving overall tyre life, pilots may achieve more take-offs and landings while purchasing fewer tyres.
Designed with additional belt plies that strengthen the crown area, the Michelin Pilot helps deliver improved wear and exceptional tread life. The tyre’s exclusive manufacturing process creates built-in balance for smooth taxiing and even tyre wear, helping to provide true-track taxi, take-offs and landings for propeller-driven aircraft.
The Michelin Pilot tyre, crafted with highly-durable rubber compounds, has up to 21% deeper skid depth. A natural contour carcass line reduces ply stresses and the tubeless-tyre design reduces the combined tyre-wheel weight and helps eliminate tyre creep (the tendency of a tyre to move around the wheel hub at touchdown). This high-performance bias tyre can also be used with a tube, delivering the same enhanced performance to pilots who use tube-type rims.
Long-term ozone and UV light protection incorporated into the tyre provides all-weather protection. The two wide grooves in the tyre tread evacuate water efficiently on wet runways, and promote excellent resistance to hydroplaning for safer operations in wet-weather conditions.
The Michelin Pilot is currently available in two sizes for the US, Canada and Europe: 15×6.00-6 6/160 and 5.00-5 6/160. Three additional sizes will be available later in 2018, with the sixth size targeted for 2019.