Tyres take centre stage
They carry changing loads, absorb punishment from poor road surfaces and influence braking, stability, fuel consumption and uptime. At the 2026 Road Transport Expo in the UK, Michelin showed that tyre development is no longer only about rubber compounds and tread patterns. Its stand combined new truck tyres, retread technology and digital tools to help fleets make better decisions.
New products on display
The headline tyre was the Michelin X Multi D2 295/80 R22.5, shown ahead of its planned September launch. Michelin says the new drive-axle tyre offers up to 15% more mileage than its predecessor and up to 7% lower rolling resistance.
Also displayed was the Michelin X Multi Energy Remix retread in the same size. It forms part of Michelin’s “four lives” approach, in which a new tyre can be regrooved, retreaded and regrooved again. For tougher applications, the stand included the Michelin X Works D2, developed for demanding worksite conditions.
A virtual copy of the tyre
Michelin’s universal tyre digital twin is especially noteworthy. This is a dynamic virtual replica of a tyre that combines existing vehicle data with mathematical modelling, tyre-physics expertise, AI and data science.
The digital twin continuously estimates tyre pressure, wear, load, grip and driving conditions. It then uses that information to help the vehicle or driver anticipate how the tyre may behave. Michelin says the software does not require additional tyre-mounted sensors. It is designed to work with different tyre brands and vehicle types, including trucks.
What this means for trucks
For a heavy vehicle, the potential value lies in prediction. Incorrect pressure can increase fuel consumption, shorten tyre life and raise the risk of failure. Overloading can affect braking, steering and stability. Worn tyres can reduce grip and increase aquaplaning risk.
A digital twin could give the vehicle a clearer picture of the tyre’s actual condition. Michelin says the information could support ABS and other advanced driver assistance systems, while helping the vehicle adjust braking expectations according to load, grip and tyre condition.
It could also support predictive maintenance. Instead of waiting for a visible defect or roadside failure, a fleet may be able to identify developing risks earlier and schedule attention before the truck is unexpectedly taken out of service.
Connected Fleet goes wider
Michelin Connected Fleet is the company’s fleet-management and telematics business. It uses vehicle hardware, GPS connectivity and an online platform to monitor trucks, trailers, drivers and operations.
Managers can access information on vehicle location, speed, driver behaviour, fuel use, maintenance needs, tyre pressure and wear, utilisation, downtime and cargo temperature. The system is intended to turn vehicle data into practical information that can help operators reduce fuel and maintenance costs, improve safety, plan work and limit breakdowns.
AI in the control room
At RTX, Michelin Connected Fleet displayed its AI Assistant, AI Cameras and Automated Inspection tools. The AI Assistant allows fleet managers to ask operational questions in ordinary language, such as which trucks need tyre maintenance or which drivers achieved the best fuel economy.
It can generate answers and reports from fleet data, saving time. Michelin’s material, however, lists the assistant’s current availability in selected European countries and the United States, not South Africa.
Technology is not a substitute
So, what does this mean for transport operators? For South African fleets (and indeed fleets the world over), the lesson is not that software will replace tyre inspections, maintenance teams or responsible drivers. It will not. It will always be very important to check tyre pressures, tread depth and visible damage, carry out regular maintenance and ensure that drivers report problems promptly – especially in South Africa, where truck tyres take a real pounding (thanks to the poor quality of the road network).
However, the opportunity is to combine physical checks with better data. A tyre that can report risk through the vehicle’s existing systems could help fleets identify underinflation, overloading, abnormal wear or reduced grip before these become failures.
Michelin’s RTX stand pointed to a wider trend in the commercial vehicle industry – here in South Africa and all over the world. The truck tyre is becoming more than a consumable. It is beginning to serve as a source of safety, maintenance and operating intelligence – which can only be good news for road safety.
- Some illustrations and graphics shown are for conceptual and illustrative purposes only.
