Michelin TRX
Michelin TRX is a system of radial tire, which was introduced in 1975 by Michelin. It was developed in order to harness the potential benefit for the first time in 1948 introduced the radial tire can consistently; which was made possible by a system of wheels, and specially designed wheel.
Features and advantages of
The aim of the development was to distribute the tension evenly on the carcass; therefore also the name of TRX from (TR for Tension Répartie, dt "distributed power " ) is derived. This requires a shift away from the base rim used previously was required whose construction dates back to the time of the cross-ply tires. The rims are newly developed as the main feature on a lower rim flange. The special shape of the rim and tire a flatter curvature of the tire wall without the S-shaped curvature of previous tire constructions arose. This has also increased the sensibly usable tire flexibility. Due to the lower and outward contour of the rim flange, the tire air pressure at a lower grip on the rim than conventional rim forms. To prevent slippage of the tire to the outside, the TRX tires were provided with a peripheral bead on the inner side of the rim seat, due to the sliding is prevented from outside. Since only tires sit on the TRX rims safe with such a Sicherheitswulst, it must be prevented that conventional tires are mounted on the rim without this feature under all circumstances. Therefore rims dimensions were defined for the TRX tires, vary in diameter from those of conventional tires, so no conventional tires can be fitted to a TRX rim and vice versa.
Advantages in handling, compared to conventional radial tires were:
- Increased road holding, by the uniform pressure distribution on the contact surface.
- Erhörter comfort, through the efficient used tire flexibility.
Size designation
Deviating from the usual standard radial tires and wheels, the diameter is also given in millimeters, or the size designation corresponds to the usual standard. Are usual tire widths that end with a zero, so is divisible by ten.
Example 190 /65 R 390 denotes a tire, the width of 190 mm and the height to width ratio is 65%. The corresponding rim has a diameter of the seat of 390 mm , which is about 15.4 inches.
This TRX tires are not mounted on conventional wheels and, what is even more important, no conventional tires on TRX rims. This is necessary because conventional tires have no grip on a TRX rim and would slip under air pressure to the outside.
Use
Were often used TRX wheels for different versions of the Citroën CX and the series 604, 505 and 504 of Peugeot. Furthermore, they were offered as an option on the BMW 6 Series Coupé and the BMW 5 and 7 Series Sedan, the Alfasud Ti Quadrifoglio Verde and Alfa Romeo Sprint, Ford Granada, the Ferrari 400, the Jaguar XJ and Saab 99/900. Moreover, there was from the companies and Treser BBS rims for, inter alia, VW, Audi and Mercedes, which were also designed for the use of the TRX tires.
In racing the TRX system was (205 Turbo 16 eg Audi Quattro, Peugeot) successfully used in Formula 1 (eg Benetton ) and in the World Rally Championship.
Availability today
TRX tires are now relatively poor and available only at high prices. Therefore, occasionally organizes joint procurement actions in lover circles or developed conversion solutions.