GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 19, 2002)—The Michelin 59/80R63 XDR radial tire for giant haul trucks is being tested in the oil sands of Canada. It is the first time such a tire has been used in real operating conditions, Michelin said.
The 59/80R63 XDR stands more than 13 feet tall, is about 5 feet wide, weighs more than 5 tons and can support more than 100 tons per tire, the company said. It was developed in collaboration with Caterpillar for the latter's new 797B, the world's largest truck, with a payload of up to 400 tons.
The XDR tire features an extra-deep tread design, Michelin said, with independent tread blocks on the tire's centerline for improved tread life. The tread is designed to allow for lower heat generation without compromising tire life, the tire maker said.
Michelin said it will introduce two versions of the 59/80R63 XDR tire, one for harsh conditions and one for high-speed operations.