LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Michelin North America Inc. is adding three turf products for mowers to its Tweel airless radial line, the company announced at the Green Industry Expo this week in Louisville.
The new products are the 15-inch ZTR caster design for larger commercial diesel mowers; the 22-inch Turf size ZTR mowers for the "prosumer" market; and a hub for electric ZTR mowers made by Mean Green.
"We continue to work with commercial mower manufacturers to supply the Tweel no-compromise solution for larger and heavier commercial mowers as well as smaller mowers for the 'prosumer' market," Justin Brock, marketing manager for the construction and Tweel segment in North America, said.
To accompany large diesel ZTR mowers that use a 26-inch drive tire, the 15-inch X Tweel Turf will debut in 2020. The 15x6N6 size configuration is designed to provide enhanced performance and more stability with its flat, smooth-rubber tread design and is able to fit a large range of mowers, including the John Deere Z997R Diesel.
The tire has a load capacity of 370 pounds and a 16 mph speed rating.
ZTR mower operators will be able to buy the X Tweel Turf airless solution using 22-inch, rear tire/wheels with 4x4 or 5x4.5-inch bolt-pattern hubs for their "prosumer" mowers in the first quarter of 2020.
The 4x4-inch bolt pattern has a 529-pound load capacity, while the 4x5.4-inch bolt pattern has a 727-pound load capacity. Available on original equipment or aftermarket, the 22-inch, black-hub version will fit: Bad Boy Elite (4x4), Grasshopper 700 series (5x4.5), Hustler Raptor SDX & FasTrac (4x4) and Kubota SZ Stand-On & Z100 (4x4).
Targeting customers who use the electric-powered Mean Green Rival mower with 52- or 60-inch mower-deck options, Michelin has engineered a green-wheel hub for 24x12N12 turf tires. The hub will have a 5x6.5-inch bolt pattern and a 1.7-inch offset and will be available starting in the second quarter of 2020.