The latest in tires, monitoring technology

By |  March 1, 2023
Deliveries of the new Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load tire were slated to begin midway through last year. Photo: Michelin

Deliveries of the new Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load tire were slated to begin midway through last year. Photo: Michelin

Several developments in tires will undoubtedly surface at next month’s ConExpo-Con/Agg. Until then, here’s a look at a few equipment and technology rollouts that emerged over the last 12 months:

Model ups load capacity

The Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load L5 35/65R33 tire emerged from Michelin North America midway through 2022 as an improved version of one of its most popular mining tires.

The new tire, developed to perform in quarry and underground mining environments, has the capacity to carry heavier loads and now has a three-star load rating.

“Michelin is extremely proud of this tire because of the increased benefit it offers our customers,” says Sarah Robinson, segment manager of mining for Michelin North America. “The new X Mine D2 extra-load tire improves upon the well-regarded and trusted X Mine D2 tire, as it increases the load capacity by 16 percent from 30.86 U.S. tons to 35.82 tons.”

According to Michelin, tires in harsh mining environments are often removed before their maximum life cycle due to damage.

The Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load tire utilizes new plies in the sidewall that keep sidewall injuries from spreading and prevent rock cuts from penetrating the sidewall.

Combined with the heavier cables at the crown, the company says the Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load tire delivers better aggression resistance that allows sites to maximize tire life.

“A new bead design enhances the strength of the bead zone,” Robinson says. “Combined with stronger cables for a more robust architecture, the Michelin X Mine D2 extra-load tire increases both efficiency and yield in mining operations for our customers, allowing for more material to be extracted in the same amount of time previously necessary.”

Option to resist cuts, heat

Bridgestone Americas, meanwhile, introduced its three-star 24.00R35 rigid dump truck tire early last year.

The rigid dump truck tire expanded Bridgestone’s 24.00R35 product lineup designed for midsize rigid dump trucks that carry hefty loads on flat terrain – often at quarries and mines. Bridgestone says the new 24.00R35 delivers 8 percent greater payload capacity along with a deeper tread depth to provide excellent tire wear and improved traction.

Additionally, the tire provides a high resistance to cuts and heat as trucks transfer larger hauls between long distances at high speeds.

“As demand continues to strengthen in the construction and quarry segments, we remain dedicated to helping maximize productivity for our customers by pairing intelligent products with best-in-class services and integrated technology solutions,” says Rob Seibert, president of off-the-road tires at Bridgestone Americas. “We are meeting growing industry demand with a superior product that features new technology and enhanced performance to optimize productivity.”

Additionally, Bridgestone unveiled a real-time tire monitoring system last year called IntelliTire. The system is available to aggregate producers for 49-in. and smaller applications.

IntelliTire uses stem-mounted flow-through external sensors, in addition to internal sensors, to provide real-time data such as tire inflation pressure and temperature to continually monitor the health of tires throughout their life cycle. Transmitting sensor details through a cloud-based system, Bridgestone says IntelliTire uses algorithms to analyze data and issue alerts and customized reports to fleet operators.

“With the introduction of IntelliTire, we are equipping our construction and quarry customers with a connected TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) offering,” says Brian Goldstine, president of mobility solutions at Bridgestone Americas. “As quarry, construction and rental customers continue to grow their businesses, it will be increasingly vital for fleets to effectively manage their growth and drive productivity, efficiency and sustainability.”

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