Michelin is introducing at MINExpo 2024 the Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™, which it says is the mining industry’s first-ever energy efficient tyre that is designed to reduce a mining vehicle’s fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions through an optimised, more flexible tread and new energy-saving rubber compound.

These tyres were at the show on one of the main mining truck exhibits – Liebherr’s new autonomous battery-electric T 264 haul truck. This truck represents the culmination of years of hard work and the joining together of the autonomy and zero emission arms of the Liebherr–Fortescue partnership. The autonomous battery-electric T 264 has a 3.2 MWh battery (developed by Fortescue Zero).

Liebherr stated: “The tyres on the T 264 at the exhibition are Michelin 50/80R57 XDR 4 SPEED ENERGYTM – the first energy efficient tyre for the mining industry…and are expected to have a positive impact on vehicle range for battery-operated trucks.”

The Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™ tyre achieves up to 3.6% better fuel efficiency compared to the Michelin XDR 250 C tyre, resulting in savings of about 5,300 gallons of fuel or $24,000 per truck annually. For a fleet of 50 trucks, this would equate to almost $1.2 million in annual savings and a reduction of 2,600 tons of CO2 emissions within a year.

“To gain a clearer insight into a tyre’s impact on energy efficiency, we must examine the forces that slow down vehicle movement, referred to as rolling resistance,” said Lisa Hickey, Michelin Sustainability Lead for Mining. “The Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™ tyre features innovative technologies, such as an optimised, more flexible tread and energy-saving rubber compound, that enable the tire to run cooler and result in more energy being directed towards propelling the truck.”

This cutting-edge tyre innovation allows vehicles such as rigid dump trucks to minimise energy consumption using a new energy-saving compound. When a mining vehicle carries a load and operates on various terrains, whether hard or soft, the tyre deforms and flexes, generating heat that results in energy loss and requires the vehicle to exert more effort to move forward.

Mining trucks fitted with Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™ tyres experience reduced rolling resistance, which leads to lower fuel usage, reduced CO2 emissions, and cost savings – a win for the industry and the planet alike.

“Michelin has been an innovation leader for 135 years. We push the boundaries of technology and design to ensure that our solutions lead the market,” said Renaud Durand, Michelin Mining Technical Director. “The Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™ tyre delivers improvements in rolling resistance without compromising key performances like safety and productivity. Today, we are leveraging our in-depth experience in composites and engineered materials to introduce the Michelin XDR 4 SPEED ENERGY™ tyre, the mining industry’s first energy-efficient tyre designed to help our customers reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions. Our ambition is to grow our leadership in energy efficiency by delivering benchmark solutions for the mining industry across our portfolio.”

Michelin says it is committed to joining forces with its mining customers to help transform the industry, reducing the environmental impact of not just its own operations, but also the products, services, and support it delivers.

This new first-of-its-kind tyre will be available commercially in 2025.