Groupe Michelin’s Michelin Earthmover division announced the introduction of the Michelin X-Straddle 2, 450/95R25, a more advanced port tire for use on the massive straddle carriers that load and unload container ships at the world’s ports.
Michelin says the new tire has a number of significant technical advancements that provide added safety, a higher-level of performance for improved productivity, a higher load-bearing capacity, increased longevity and more comfortable ride qualities for the equipment operators. It also has new environmental benefits.
“Straddle carriers are the lifeblood of a port operation. These tires need to deliver maximum productivity, safety and durability to eliminate cargo downtime,” said Hugo Morales, Product Marketing manager, Michelin North American Earthmover.
“By offering solutions, Michelin delivers profitability through lower operating costs. This tire carries greater loads, at a faster speed, so more containers can move per hour on the terminal.”
Straddle carriers are specialized eight-wheeled moving machines equipped with four steering axles. Constantly starting and stopping, these machines can lift up to 100 tons and must be able to operate reliably in the most extreme weather conditions found at ports the world over.
The new Michelin X-Straddle 2, 450/95R25 is built to improve the efficiency and productivity of carrier operations by offering a 17% increase in top speed capabilities, a 25% increase in per-hour distance and a 7% increase in load capacity compared with the previous-generation Michelin X-Straddle. Altogether, these improvements increase the productivity of the new tire by more than 30%, notes Michelin.
Offering more longevity, the Michelin X-Straddle 2, 450/95R25 uses a newly engineered tread pattern and casing, a new dual-compound tread and an optimized cooling system design on both the tread and the shoulders. The new tread, which contains 4% more rubber, helps to increase the life of the tire by up to 15%.
The robust features of the new Michelin port tire provides operators increased reliability and enhanced safety with protective sidewall cords and belts that resist punctures and shearing. Additionally, the tire’s narrower ribs reduce the risk of objects lodging in the tread while the protective belts on the sidewalls resist punctures and shearing. It is also easier to mount and dismount, an important factor when maintaining this giant machinery.
