Michelin North America Inc. unveiled its new Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tire for small-business owners and commercial fleets. This 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. These vehicles are seen increasingly in applications such as:
• Local and parcel delivery fleets;
• Food and beverage and temperature-controlled vehicles;
• Telecom and utility fleets; and
• Trades, including landscaping, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, pest control and other trade fleets
Available April 1 in the United States and Canada, the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tire is available in 16 light-truck (LT) sizes for passenger-vehicle platforms such as the Ford F-Series, Ford Econoline, Chevrolet Express, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Ram 2500 and Mercedes Sprinter. Five C-Metric sizes are available for lighter-duty commercial vehicles such as the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV200.
Responding to the wide-ranging demands for these vehicles in last-mile delivery and urban or suburban commercial uses, the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate features these benefits, as detailed by the tire manufacturer:
• Durability over extended mileage
• Towing and hauling heavy loads with confidence
• Improved protection from impacts, punctures and aggressions
• All-weather (or all-season) performance for year-round rough work conditions, as well as wet braking in high-stress applications
The Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tire is engineered with:
MaxPressure Profile, which optimizes the tire footprint for better wear life under high pressure, heavy loads, high torque and stop-and-go driving, according to Michelin. Additionally, the distinctive StabiliBlok design provides wider and longer tread blocks that resist extreme torque while providing relatively cooler operating temperatures under full loads and at high speeds.
SipeLock provides hundreds of biting edges for improved wet and snow traction without sacrificing tread-block stability. CurbGard sidewall protectors resist curb scrubbing in urban environments, according to the manufacturer. This tire has more than twice as much nylon reinforcement as the Michelin Defender LTX M/S for improved sidewall strength and durability.
The C-Metric tire has a directional tread design, while the LT-metric uses a non-directional tread pattern.
With a “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” (3PMSF) designation from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, the Agilis CrossClimate meets the tire industry’s requirements for severe snow service.
The C-Metric tire sizes include: 185/60R15C, 195/75R16C, 205/65R15C, 225/75R16C and 235/65R16C. The LT-metric sizes include: LT215/85R16, LT225/75R16, LT235/85R16, LT245/75R16, LT265/75R16, LT235/80R17, LT245/70R17, LT245/75R17, LT265/70R17, LT285/70R17, LT265/70R18, LT275/65R18, LT275/70R18, LT265/60R20, LT275/65R20 and LT285/60R20.
