Michelin touts fuel-savings of X One Energy truck tire

ORLANDO, Fla. — Michelin North America Inc. has developed a wide-base drive-axle tire, the X One Line Energy D2, that it claims is its lowest rolling-resistance truck tire to date.

Set to launch May 1 in North Americas, the X One Line Energy D2 is available in a single size, 445/50R22.5 L, for line-haul, dry-van truck-load and refrigerated truck-load applications. It replaces the Energy D in Michelin's X One Line, Michelin said.

The tire has a relatively shallow 20/32nds-inch tread depth and a directional tread pattern for the first half of the tire's life, designed to provide improved resistance to irregular wear for longer tread life and driver confidence

"The new … tire answers fleet needs with exceptional fuel savings for a lower total cost of ownership and significant performance attributes," Karen Schwartz, vice president of B2B marketing, said.

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The tire's compact design produces less tread squirm and provides energy conservation for fuel efficiency, Michelin said. The tire's low rolling-resistance levels are designed to exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Phase 2 (GHG2) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements for reduced carbon output.

From an economy standpoint, Michelin claims the Energy D2 exhibits 12% less rolling resistance than the Energy D it's replacing. That level of improvement can yield savings of up to $2,317 per year in fuel costs versus the Bridgestone Greatec M835A Ecopia, based on diesel costs of $2.55 a gallon.

The tire's evolving tread design — a product of Michelin's "Regenion" technology — gives the Energy D2 tire stability in all weather conditions for North American operations, Michelin said. A rectangular bead minimizes fatigue to extend casing life, which is designed for maximum retreadability.

Using four Energy D2 wide-base singles instead of eight conventional-design drive tires reduces the tire and wheel weight by up to 432 pounds, Michelin said, which can be converted to additional payload.

Michelin backs the Energy D2 tire with its X One Tire Total Satisfaction Guarantee, which provides a driver satisfaction guarantee (refund after 60 days and before 210 days of usage) and owner's satisfaction guarantee (offer to buy back the casing for $150 and reimburse up to 75% of wheel costs for converting to wide-base singles).

Michelin disclosed the new tire's launch at the 2022 Technology & Maintenance Council's annual meeting, being held in Orlando March 7-10.