Michelin’s non-pneumatic Tweel technology can now be fitted to Mean Green’s ZTR mower.
The Mean Green Evo ZTR-74 will be made available with Michelin X Tweel Turf 26in tires (26 x 12N12 XL 10×8.5 +1.7in offset) as an OE rear-wheel option, or as a replacement fitment on an existing Evo ZTR-74 mower, replacing its standard 26 x 12 x 12 tire.
“We are proud to partner with Mean Green Mowers to offer Tweels on their innovative all-electric mowers,” said Tony Marconi, business director, Michelin Tweel Technologies. “We were challenged to develop a unique ‘hub-less’ design that mounts directly to the motor hub drive unit.”
The development of this specific size and hub was the result of collaboration between Michelin, Mean Green and field testing partner Parsons Landscape Services.
“When we received our custom-made 26in Tweels for the Impulse Drive series mowers, we were delighted,” said Matt Parsons, president of Parsons Landscape Services. “We have had Michelin X Tweels on our Mean Green CXR mowers and could not wait to get them for our Mean Green EVO series mowers with the Impulse Drive System. Now that we have them installed on our EVO mower, it truly is a maintenance-free mower – eliminating the need to worry about any tire issues when we start our day.”
The 26 x 12N12 XL size has a 1,030lb load capacity and can be used with or without a bagger system. The new design incorporates a hub-less design and utilizes either a five-bolt configuration to attach the unit as a retrofit replacement for existing mowers, or a 10-bolt standard OE configuration for new production mowers.
“Since 2018, we have been collaborating with Michelin on our environmental journey,” said Joe Conrad, president of Mean Green Mowers. “Our team knows that the Michelin X Tweel Turf tire and caster provide an airless radial tire that has a consistent hub height, which produces an even cut and excellent lateral stability for outstanding side hill performance while reducing downtime to provide a maintenance-free solution for our customers.”
The X Tweel is a single unit that replaces the current tire-wheel assembly. There is no need for complex mounting equipment, and once they are bolted on, there is no air pressure to maintain. The unique energy transfer within the poly-resin spokes helps reduce the ‘bounce’ associated with pneumatic tires, while providing outstanding handling characteristics. They are designed to perform like pneumatic tires, without the inconvenience and downtime caused by flat tires.
