Michelin North America has launched the Michelin X Works Grip D tire, a drive-axle tire designed for the energy sector and logging fleets operating in extreme conditions.

Michelin said that the X Works Grip D is its most aggressive drive-axle tire and it is designed for on- and off-road use. The tire was developed with better traction and casing durability in mind.

Traction is created by staggered shoulder blocks that provide lateral grip to handle slippery conditions and sawtooth lugs with more than 800 serrated edges that maximize grip on ice and snow-packed surfaces. The Michelin X Works Grip D tire offers stability in all conditions with the combination of an extra-wide tread and an optimized rubber-to-void ratio which improves traction without sacrificing mileage.

Casing durability is improved through four features:

• Stone protection thanks to ejectors around the center block that fight stone retention and drilling

• Shock, impact and road hazard protection through four steel belts at the crown of the tire

• Sidewall protection realized through extra-thick sidewalls, which protect the tire in extreme conditions from chipping and scaling

• Co-Ex Technology for a cool-running tread rubber that reduces temperatures in the crown area and preserves the casing, increasing the ability for the tire to be retreaded

Michelin has also optimized the housing design of the tread and the positioning of the shoulder blocks, allowing for a faster installation and removal of snow-chains.

The Michelin X Works Grip D tire is available in the United States and Canada in 11R24.5 size and load range H.