Michelin Aircraft Tyre has been selected as the new original-equipment provider for Cirrus Aircraft ─ the world’s leading manufacturer of piston aircraft and maker of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet, the Vision® Jet. All Cirrus Aircraft will now be equipped with MICHELIN® Air tires, including the recently developed MICHELIN Air tubeless sizes for Cirrus SR Series aircraft.
“Michelin is proud to be the tire of choice for Cirrus Aircraft,” said Robert Sevener, Michelin global lead, general aviation tires. “Cirrus and Michelin are two companies that strive for technological leadership in the world of mobility. Leading with innovation since the beginning, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System®, Cirrus Aircraft’s SR Series and the Vision Jet are a perfect fit for Michelin’s industry-leading tire technologies.”
As an innovation leader, Michelin introduced the world’s first radial aircraft tire in 1981. Today, Michelin manufactures a broad line of radial (Michelin Air X) and bias-ply (Michelin Air) aircraft tires for commercial, regional, military and general-aviation aircraft. Michelin is a trusted partner for original-equipment manufacturers and equips over half of all new general-aviation aircraft.
The MICHELIN Air, a line of bias tires, is designed to provide the perfect blend of performance and cost for piston, turbo-prop and jet applications. A wide range of sizes, both tubeless and tubed, are available to cover popular general-aviation fitments.
The MICHELIN Air X is offered in more radial sizes than all other aircraft-tire brands combined, including 18 sizes for business jets. Compared to bias-ply technology, the MICHELIN Air X provides the advantages of more landings per tread, and measurable fuel savings. The radial tire offers a 20- to 30-percent weight reduction over comparable bias tires, an extra-strong carcass to restrict tire expansion, an optimized tread design for cut resistance, customized rubber compounds for ozone and ultraviolet light protection and a flexible casing for smoother taxis, take-offs and landings that improve passenger comfort.
Cirrus Aircraft’s first high-performance SR Series aircraft was delivered in 1999 and immediately transformed personal aviation with intuitive avionics, game-changing performance and revolutionary safety systems, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. Today’s SR Series aircraft include the SR20, SR22 and turbocharged SR22T. Over the years the Cirrus Aircraft has continued to revolutionize personal aviation, including in 2016, when the company ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the introduction of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet – the Vision Jet.