Michelin XZE*

Five-rib all-position pattern. The five-rib, non-directional tread of the Michelin XZE** delivers a stable contact patch with an optimised void-to-rubber ratio, distributing contact stresses uniformly to suppress rib-edge shear and cupping on steer positions while controlling scrub on urban/regional axles. Shoulder decoupling grooves reduce heat flux at the shoulder-belt interface during tight manoeuvres, limiting belt-edge growth and preserving casing geometry. Interlocking rib elements limit tread squirm under lateral load, lowering hysteresis losses for improved fuel efficiency and promoting straight-line stability and precise steering response over long kilometres.

Dual-compound cool-running tread. A cap/base dual-compound construction pairs a high-wear, cut/chip resistant cap with a low-hysteresis base that acts as a thermal insulator, pulling heat away from the belt package to protect cords during stop-start delivery cycles. This architecture controls operating temperatures at highway speeds and in kerb-scrub environments, slowing oxidative ageing of the compound and reducing fatigue in the steel cords. The result is consistent treadwear rates, retained casing strength for future retreads, and lower rolling resistance without sacrificing wet grip or braking performance.

Reinforced sidewall kerb guards. Extra rubber gauge and moulded kerb guard ribs along the sidewall shield the carcass from kerbing and docking impacts common in metro delivery work, reducing the likelihood of sidewall cord exposure and ply turn-up damage. By absorbing abrasion and deflecting contact away from the textile/steel cord zones, the Michelin XZE** maintains sidewall integrity, minimises air loss events, and preserves bead area alignment, which supports consistent footprint shape and enhances ride quality and handling under high load.

Stone-ejecting groove design. Tapered main grooves with integrated stone-ejector geometry inhibit stone trapping and drill-through, dispersing debris before it can penetrate to the belt package. This reduces perforation-induced corrosion and fretting at the belt edges, maintaining casing flatness and preventing localised heat build-up. Improved groove cleanliness also sustains wet evacuation efficiency, preserving braking traction on rain-soaked chipseal while extending casing life for multiple retread cycles.

Robust retread-ready casing. An all-steel radial casing with high-tensile belt cords, a reinforced bead bundle, and a rigid bead apex delivers exceptional dimensional stability and load-carrying capacity across regional and urban duty cycles. The casing architecture controls deflection and heat at the lower sidewall, reducing strain energy density in critical zones and limiting ply-end fatigue. This engineering underpins excellent retreadability, enabling multiple high-quality retreads to lower total cost per kilometre while maintaining the handling precision expected from the Michelin XZE**.