GREENVILLE, S.C., July 12, 2021 — Michelin North America, Inc., is launching a heavy-duty urban bus drive tire designed for harsh weather conditions often experienced in the Northeast, Northwest, upper-Midwest and Canada. The MICHELIN® X® INCITY Grip D premium drive tire provides protection in urban environments so fleets can continue operating in harsh winter conditions.
“The all-new MICHELIN X INCITY Grip D urban drive tire is designed to keep buses moving with confidence in winter conditions,” said Mike Tolman, product category manager – Michelin Americas, Urban Mobility Business Line. “Tires that move buses for transit authorities need to be cost-efficient, safe and keep buses moving to remain on time and reliable, even during harsh weather conditions. But this can be a challenge for the transit equipment managers. We want this tire offer to be the No. 1 choice of transit authorities requiring a new drive tire for their applications.”
The MICHELIN X INCITY Grip D tire offers three key benefits:
- robust and dependable;
- confidence operating in all-weather conditions; and
- long even wear for low-cost per mile operation.
Dependability is created through extra thick sidewalls that guard against shocks, impacts and curb scrub for added casing protection to handle the challenges of tough urban conditions for added durability. Sidewall wear indicators promote timely tire rotation for long casing life and enhanced retreadability. A full-width, elastic protector ply provides improved casing protection and casing-fatigue resistance. An extended metallic chafer ply dissipates heat in the bead area to improve bead durability.
Drivers can have confidence in all-weather conditions with the tire optimized for these specific conditions so they can keep moving no matter the weather conditions. Matrix sipes provide inter-locking action which offers excellent traction and even wear. Zig-Zag groove walls provide biting edges and excellent water and snow evacuation for exceptional handling and stability. Full-depth sipes provide excellent traction throughout the life of the tread.
The MICHELIN X INCITY Grip D tire incorporates next-generation application-specific compounds, a unique tread design and wide open-shoulder grooves for extended tread life. Long, even wear results in exceptional mileage for lower cost per mile operation for the fleet.
The MICHELIN X INCITY Grip D tire is available in the United States and Canada in a 305/70R22.5 size and load range J. The tire meets the Buy America requirements for federal and state transit administration needs. To learn more about bus tires and services, visit business.michelinman.com.