Michelin rolls out “lighter and longer lasting” aircraft tire

Paris – Michelin has claimed a 'world first' with the rollout of a new aircraft radial, which is said to be 10-20% lighter than previous generations of such tires.

Launched at the recent Paris Air Show, the Air X Sky Light commercial aviation tire also offers 'better landings-per-tread (LPT) performance' than its predecessors.

Lifespan can be 15 to 20% longer, said Michelin, noting that the new tire features “major breakthroughs” in terms of architecture, materials, and manufacturing processes.

Advances, it said, include a special crown architecture and optimised footprint as well as ‘ultra-resistant’ casing materials incorporating hybrid cables and fabrics, 

Michelin has also employed 'sustainable' materials in the tires, which are being manufactured at its factory at Bourges, in central France, added its 21 June announcement

On an industrial level, “innovative manufacturing processes have been developed within the factory” continued Michelin – without providing further details.

Michelin said the tire meets the air transport decarbonisation targets by reducing the overall weight of aircrafts.

For instance, the weight savings on a narrow-body aircraft, such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, could be 75kg on the main gear.

On wide-body aircraft, such as an Airbus A350 or Boeing 777, the savings could reach up to 250kg on the main gear, according to Michelin.

For a fleet of 40 long-haul aircraft, it said, the lighter-weight tires could save €820,000 in jet fuel costs per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 3,400 tonnes.

The first dimension of the tire has been developed to equip the future Dassault Aviation's Falcon 10X, with test flights planned for the coming months.

Michelin said the next tire dimensions will be defined based on the priorities of airlines and aircraft manufacturers.