Michelin, one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world, has unveiled the X Line Tropic F, a tyre specifically designed for the commercial vehicles sector using the same technology as in Formula One tyres.

The tyre was launched at Commercial Vehicles Middle East, the region's only dedicated event for the commercial vehicles industry, held in Dubai last week. Michelin was the tyre sponsor at the expo.

Using new belt technology called ‘FAZ’, which has been used for years on Formula One cars, the X Line Tropic F promises significant improvement in mileage and retreadability according to a top official.

Announcing the launch, Marc Laferriere, the director of Michelin Truck Tyre Marketing, said fitting incorrect tyres on commercial vehicle fleets affects performance by as much as 30 per cent, resulting in costly maintenance, vehicle downtime and retread bills.

Commercial vehicle fleet managers stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dirhams annually from choosing the wrong tyres for their vehicles, he noted.

“A 100 truck fleet will spend well above Dh1 million ($272,250) per year on tyres, retreads, and maintenance,” said Laferriere.

'Choosing the wrong tyre or the wrong maintenance practices can negatively affect the performance by as much as 30 per cent, potentially leaving Dh300,000 hanging in the balance of making the right and most informed choice,' he stated.

“There is even a greater impact on indirect costs such as downtime, productivity and fuel economy. Tyres can account for the majority of a vehicle’s downtime and as much as 30 per cent of its fuel consumption,” he added.

Laferriere was addressing delegates at the Commercial Vehicles Conference, which was held alongside the CVME exhibition which concluded on Thursday.

Asked why companies fail to choose the right tyres for their fleets, Laferriere said: “Fleet and maintenance managers have to make hundreds of decisions every week, and they must be experts in a multitude of fields related to the efficiency of their fleets.

“It is only through a trusting and professional relationship with suppliers that fleets can be properly advised with respect to the best choices to make,” he added.

“Commercial Vehicles Middle East presents itself as a great opportunity to speak and exchange directly with the key players in the Middle East truck market,” said Laferriere.

“Either on the trade show floor, or during the conference, we should have some great opportunities to better understand the key challenges faced by the trucking community and possibly derive some solutions for the future.”

Alexandria Robinson, the project manager for CVME said: “This is the first time that Michelin has participated at Commercial Vehicles Middle East, and we are delighted that such a major industry player has come on board to officially support the event as the Tyre Sponsor.'

'We look forward to a long term beneficial relationship for many more years ahead,'  he added.-TradeArabia News Service