Groupe Michelin announced two new tread patterns for skid steers and an OE fitment for commercial mowers for its Tweel airless radial tire.
Tread patterns
The Tweel’s new all-terrain design has a deep, open tread for off-road applications. The new hard surface pattern provides 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 tire, which provides more longevity on pavement and asphalt, presents an option for very high-use operations.
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.
“Our newest versions of the 12N16.5 X Tweel SSL provide the benefits associated with pneumatic tires, but they don’t 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.
OE fitment
The Tweel will be OE on the ZTrak 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers manufactured by John Deere & Co. The Michelin X Tweel Turf will be original equipment to replace a standard 24x12x12 tire. It will be available on the 54-, 60- and 72-inch deck sizes.
Michelin says the newest version of its Tweel tire uses automotive rubber technology for tread that lasts up to three times longer than standard turf tires. Operators will experience greater performance than with a pneumatic tire, increased uptime, enhanced hillside stability, reduced operator fatigue, and improved productivity resulting in a lower cost of ownership.
“We have been working with the John Deere team for several years and the result is a partnership that has the potential to dramatically change the commercial mowing market,”says Dimenna.
Nick Minas, product manager for John Deere, says the Tweel Turf could “very well be the last rear tire contractors will ever need for their zero-turn mowers.”
Michelin says the Tweel Turf offers high strength, poly-resin spokes to carry the load and absorb impacts while providing reduced machine bounce. This translates into excellent operator comfort and in turn, productivity. The multidirectional tread pattern is optimized for hillside stability and helps prevents turf damage. The proprietary technology allows the load to hang from the top, resulting in low contact pressure that mimics air filled tires. The four bolt pattern, heavy steel gauge steel hub fits a variety of popular zero-turn commercial mowers.
To learn more about the Tweel airless radial tires, visit www.michelintweel.com.
John Deere has launched a Total Cost of Ownership model, which is available at JohnDeere.com/Tweel.
