Newer Tire Designed for Dassault Falcon 10X Sees Broad Application for Industry Hungry for Efficiency

Michelin brought out it’s newest, lightest commercial aircraft tire yet with their Air X Sky Light, a new offering that allows operators a 10 to 20% reduction in weight over existing Michelin tires.

The Air X Sky Light has its roots in the Dassault Falcon 10X, signaling its design philosophy as a nice little piece of kit that offers the necessary performance at a weight target that helps operators meet increasingly stringent efficiency goals.  The tire sports new radial tech with a few tricks and techniques in the manufacturing process, the specifics of which are apparently too boring or technical to be of any note… instead, Michelin wants to emphasize the philosophy behind the  Air X Sky Light tire, particularly where its environmental impact stands in comparison to similar products.

The overall standard life cycle for tires was deemed their greatest bugbear, a bit off the usual assumption that a tire’s greatest sin lay in its disposal. Instead, Michelin sees the overall carbon usage required to port around additional, unneeded rubber as the right fulcrum to attack. “Weight is by far the parameter with the most impact, 90-95%” read the Michelin data. “Carrying the weight of tires at high altitudes results is a major consumption of energy, as the tires on a landing gear assembly can range from under 110 lbs. to over 4,440 lbs. so reducing weight was a distinct challenge.”

“Technological breakthroughs allow us to provide a lighter product and thus more efficient aircraft, without any compromise to safety,” said Murray. “The combination of innovations, across technology and design, make the Michelin Air X Sky Light tire an important milestone in Michelin’s on-going journey to enable mobility that is safer and more efficient while also being more environmentally conscious.”

FMI: www.michelin.com