Michelin's Agilis CrossClimate tires, pictured on a Chevy Silverado, are designed for small-business owners and commercial fleets.
ATLANTA—Michelin North America Inc. has developed an all-weather tire for commercial truck and van use, the Agilis CrossClimate, that launches in the U.S. and Canada in April in 16 light truck and five C-metric sizes.
The tire was designed specifically for ¾- and 1-ton pick-up trucks and vans used in commercial applications, as well as for European van platforms that have become increasingly popular in the North American market, Michelin said.
The tires are intended for use on local and parcel delivery fleets, food and beverage and temperature-controlled vehicles, telecom and utility fleets. Applications also include vehicles used for trades such as landscaping, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and pest control.
Agillis CrossClimate C (right) for Euro-style vans has a directional tread pattern.
Adam Murphy, vice president of B2B marketing for Michelin, called the Agilis CrossClimate Michelin's "most durable" tire for heavy-duty light trucks and lighter commercial applications.
"Through engineering and innovation, Michelin has developed a tire that lasts longer under heavy loads, and also offers shorter wet-stopping distances and better snow traction than other leading competitive commercial tires," Murphy said in a statement.
The Agilis CrossClimate launches in 16 light-truck sizes—ranging from LT215/85R16 to LT285/60R2—for platforms such as the Ford F-Series and Econoline, Chevrolet Express and Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram 2500 and Mercedes Sprinter. It also will be available in five C-Metric sizes for the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV200.
The Agilis CrossClimate launches alongside the Defender LTX M/S, Michelin's light truck tire line optimized for personal use, which launched in 2015.
Among the tire's features are:
Durability over extended mileage;
Towing and hauling heavy loads with confidence;
Improved protection from impacts and punctures;
All-weather performance, including wet braking in high-stress applications.
The C-Metric tire has a directional tread design, while the LT-metric uses a non-directional tread pattern, Michelin said. Both versions carry the "Three Peak Mountain Snowflake" designation from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, indicating it meets the tire industry's requirements for severe snow service.
Michelin attributes the enhanced performance to a number of engineering innovations, including:
MaxPressure Profile, which optimizes the tire's footprint for better wear life under high pressure, heavy loads, high torque and stop-and-go driving.
StabiliBlok design, which provides wider and longer tread blocks that resist extreme torque while providing relatively cooler operating temperatures under full loads and at high speeds.
SipeLock, which provides biting edges for improved wet and snow traction without sacrificing tread-block stability.
CurbGard sidewall protectors, which resist curb scrubbing in urban environments. This tire has more than twice as much nylon reinforcement as the Michelin Defender LTX M/S for improved sidewall strength and durability.
Michelin claims the Agilis CrossClimate LT-metric tire lasted up to 19 percent longer under heavy loads than the three leading competitors' comparable commercial tires.
Additionally, Michelin's testing showed the C-metric version stopped up to 24 feet shorter and the LT-metric tire up to 21 feet shorter than three leading competitors' comparable commercial tires.
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