Michelin TRX

The Michelin TRX, (and the related TDX), is a radial tire introduced by the Michelin Group in 1975. It is one of the first volume-produced low-profile tires. Although technologically advanced, and reasonably successful, the tire's requirement for a non-standard rim ultimately condemned it to a relatively short commercial life. It has thus been called the "Betamax of the tire industry.[1]"

Background and development

As passenger car performance increased during the 1970s, the need arose for improved tire capability. One of the possibilities was to reduce sidewall height, low sidewalls being common at the time on crossply racing tires, but not usual for the better-performing radial tire.[2] The problem was that reducing sidewall height compromised tire comfort, in part due to the roadwheel rim profile used.

Michelin therefore decided to introduce the world's first tire and roadwheel system, where the two were designed together.[3] This would enable both lower sidewall height, (for better roadholding) whilst retaining comfort due to better stress distribution within the tire, enabled by the redesigned wheel rim and tire bead.

The "TR" was for "tension répartie", since tire stresses were better balanced in the new design, whilst the "X" was a reference to previous Michelin products such as the famous "X" radial.

TRX tires thus require the use of wheels that were specially designed for them; standard tires do not fit TRX wheels and vice versa.

To avoid potentially dangerous confusion, Michelin used metric sizes for TRX roadwheels instead of the standard imperial wheel size (normally stated in inches).

Usage
Renault Alpine A310 V6 with TRX tires
1995 BMW 525i Sport with TRX tires

TRX tires were available either as standard or optional equipment on certain models of European makes such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Citroën, Peugeot, Ford, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Renault, and SAAB. They were also available on certain models of the Ford Mustang, Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Capri, Mercury Cougar, and Mercury Lynx during the 1980s.

Although most TRX tires were produced by Michelin, a few sizes were made by Avon, Continental, Goodyear (mainly for the American market[4]) and Dunlop. Dunlop fitted their version of the TRX tire as standard equipment on Austin Montegos and Austin Mini Metros.

TRX sizes

TRX wheels existed in diameters from 315 millimetres (12.4 in) to 415 millimetres (16.3 in)[5]

Some common TRX sizes and vehicles:[6]

Size Application

Note: AV='front', AR='rear'. Does not include North American vehicles.

Other sizes were available, for instance 160/65 R 315.[5]

Decline

Although the tire gave good performance, and thus as noted above gained favour with some OEMs, its non-standard dimensions proved problematic in the aftermarket. It was also a notoriously hard tire to remove when using basic tools, a consequence of the deliberately designed strong fit between tire bead and rim.

Rival manufacturers, such as Dunlop, thus produced replacement wheels and tires for popular cars, specifically for high-performance or winter conditions.

In due course advances in tire technology caught up with the TRX line, enabling similar performance and greater convenience at lower cost. TRX tires are now produced only as “young-timer” replacements for vehicles which were originally fitted with them. Michelin Classic still has these tires in catalogue.[8] Also, Coker Tire is the USA dealer for Michelin classic [4] and currently (February 2014) sells 14 sizes of TRX tires.[9] New TRX tyres are being produced by Michelin and can be bought through Longstone Tyres in the UK.

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References

Citations

  1. "SAAB TRX Wheels". Archived from the original on 2006-05-30. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  2. Pirelli 1975 Pirelli created a wide tyre with a reduced sidewall height like a slick, but with a radial structure.
  3. For the first time, the tyre and its rim complemented one another perfectly, working as a single unit. The rim underwent a fundamental transformation, the essential characteristic of which was a flatter, lower flange. This new design of the rim and tyre bead resulted in a gradual curvature of the casing, without the "5" shaped flexing inherent in traditional designs.
  4. "Automotive History: Michelin's TRX Tire–Reinventing The Radial Tire Didn't Work Quite As Well As Inventing It". Archived from the original on 2013-10-18. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  5. "Michelin TRX-radials tubeless". Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. "List found on this forum". Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. "Falcon Facts: ZK Fairlane / FD LTD". Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. "TRX Michelin Classic". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  9. "Coker Tire TRX catalogue". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
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