Following a rigorous selection process, Michelin’s Air X tire has been chosen for all Airbus A380 aircraft being operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) on new routes to Hawaii. ANA has purchased three A380s, and the first of these will be introduced on the Narita-Honolulu route on May 24, 2019.
The Michelin Air X features the tire manufacturer’s Near Zero Growth (NZG) technology. Aircraft tires have very high inflation pressures (20 bar) compared to other tires, such as passenger car tires (2.5 bar). At the high take-off and landing speeds, an aircraft tire can ‘grow’ due to the high centrifugal forces. NZG minimizes tire diameter growth, and consequently the tires are more durable and resistant to foreign object damage.
This is the first time that the Japanese airline will operate the Airbus A380, the world’s largest double-decker commercial airplane.
