GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin North America Inc. has added three sizes to its Michelin Pilot aviation tire line for the U.S., Canada and Europe.
The Pilot is a bias tire for piston and turboprop aircraft. The new sizes are: 6.50-8/8/160; 7.00-6/8/160; and 8.50-10/10/160.
The company says the tire has up to 21 percent deeper skid depth and a natural contour carcass line that reduces ply stresses. The tubeless tire design also lessens the combined tire-wheel weight and helps eliminate the tire's tendency to move around the wheel hub at touchdown.
The company also notes the tire can be used with a tube for pilots who use tube-type rims.
"Our Pilot tires are providing a softer ride than our previous tires and have additional tread," said Bruce Waldecker, owner of a Bonanza aircraft and member of the American Bonanza Society, said via Michelin.
"We have not had any issues with the mounting or balancing. They tracked straight and true for takeoffs and landings."
The Michelin Pilot has improved durability and resistance to foreign object damage, the company states. The tire incorporates the high-tech ozone-resistant compounds into the sidewall rubber. The natural contour-mold profile promotes casing equilibrium for improved footprint-pressure distribution in the contact patch.
"By significantly improving overall tire life, pilots may achieve more takeoffs and landings while purchasing fewer tires," the company said.
"Our customers requested additional sizes for this deep-tread solution so that they could achieve more landings in a lighter tire to improve fuel efficiency and increase range," said Robert Sevener, global lead for Michelin general aviation.