Michelin unveils aggressive underground mining tires

Michelin unveils aggressive underground mining tires

Greenville, South Carolina — Michelin North America Inc. is launching what it calls its most aggressive answer for underground mining (UGM) tires, specifically made for loaders and transport machines operating in extreme conditions.

The Michelin X Mine D2 Pro and the XSM D2+ Pro line of tires features increased load capacity, improved tire life and improved aggression resistance, Michelin said.

"Underground mining managers demand products that reduce downtime while keeping their operators safe," Jake Thompson, Michelin marketing manager, mining, said.

"They do not want underground equipment to stop working due to tire limitations. The Pro Line is specifically designed to address the tough conditions found in underground mines and reduce downtime."

The Michelin X Mine Pro series has an increased load capacity of up to 18 percent engineered into the L5 UGM tire through a reinforced three-star casing and two extra plies, which contain crossed-nylon cords encased in rubber for greater resistance and toughness, the company said.

Michelin refers to this reinforced-sidewall construction as "NRF" technology and said it helps prevent sidewall injuries from migrating.

The X Mine Pro series also features encapsulated cables, found in the working plies, to provide better protection against aggressions and oxidation, and optimized tread compounds, to endure the harshest of conditions, the company said.

The X Mine D2 Pro tire is available in the US and Canada in sizes 17.5R25, 18.00R25, 20.5R25, 23.5R25, 26.5R25, 29.5R25 and 29.5R29.

The XSM D2+ Pro is available in 17.5R25, 18.00R25, 26.5R25, and 29.5R29 sizes.