ATLANTA — Michelin Truck Tires unveiled its newest dual-position drive tire for line-haul operations today at the North American Commerical Vehicle Show (NACV) in Atlanta. The new XDA Energy + tire is designed for fleets and owner-operators who are focused on fuel savings to reduce their operating costs.

Adam Murphy, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, said the fuel savings generated by the new tire are driven by an innovative FuelSaver compound formula for ultra-low rolling resistance. The tire is compliant with SmartWay, California Air Resources Board, and can help fleets by being a significant contributor to Greenhouse Gas Phase II regulations and the tire supports fleet sustainability and green initiatives, Murphy added.

Murphy says the tire’s design will also help fleets contain maintenance costs. The XDA Energy + features wide circumferential grooves for efficient water evacuation and grooved, angled walls to help resist stone retention that can lead to stone drilling that potentially damages the casing. The sidewall also features TW6 OzoneShield technology for increased protection against weathering. The tire features a durable Michelin casing capable of supporting multiple retreads while further reducing maintenance costs.

Confident in the tire’s fuel-efficiency capability, Murphy said Michelin will offer a limited guarantee of $400 per truck in fuel savings. Fleets can contact their local Michelin representative to schedule a fuel evaluation of the XDA Energy+ versus a competitive product.

“Helping fleets to increase their competitiveness in the market is our goal,” Murphy said. “One of the main levers fleets have to improve their competitiveness is improving their fuel efficiency, and tires like the new Michelin XDA Energy + can play a key role. With rolling resistance accounting for approximately 35 percent of the total fuel cost of a Class 8 truck, the Michelin XDA Energy + provides seven percent better rolling resistance than a leading competitor for unparalleled fuel savings.”