Michelin adds a new size of mobile crane tyre

Michelin’s new Michelin X-Crane 2 445/95 R25 178F crane tyre. Image: Michelin 2025

Tyre manufacturer Michelin is adding a new size to its X-Crane 2 range.

The 445/95 R25 has a new load and speed index rating of 178F. This allows the crane to carry a heavier load at higher speed. Its predecessor, the X-Crane+, was rated at 174F. The extra capacity per tyre is significant: an extra 800 kg at 80 km/h, i.e. 1.6 tonnes per axle more, at high speed.

The French company said its new tyre offers longer life, better traction, improved safety and overall performance, attributed to the use of Michelin Regenion technology.

Michelin explained its Regenion technology as using metal 3D printing to create self-regenerating tread. In addition to longer life tread, the new tyre offers a fuel consumption improvement of more than 13 %, equating to a saving of 826 litres of diesel per 10,000 km travelled, the manufacturer claimed.

In addition to longer life, there is a “self-regenerating” tread and a fuel consumption improvement of more than 13 %, equating to a saving of 826 litres of diesel per 10,000 km, the manufacturer claimed. Image: Michelin 2024

Shorter stopping distance

Better braking performance in the wet is a further benefit of the latest new tyre. The company said its multiple wet braking tests showed its closest competing tyre, the Bridgestone VHS2, had to brake for 27 % longer, equating to more than 10 metres of extra stopping distance.

As it is designed for all terrain cranes it can be used both on and off road and it is certified for M+S (mud and snow), the company said. It combines a civil engineering casing with a truck tyre tread and is 5 per cent lighter than the previous X-Crane+ tyre series.

The new X-Crane 2 in 445/95 R25 is homologated for use on all terrain cranes from Liebherr (LTM, LG, LTC series), Grove (GMK), Tadano (AC) built in Europe and the Link-Belt (AT) cranes from the USA. The first X-Crane 2, launched around the middle of 2024, was in size 445/75 R22.5, for the Spierings mobile folding construction cranes built in the Netherlands.

An extra 800 kg per tyre, 1.6 tonnes per axle, can be carried at 80 km/h. Image: Michelin 2024