DHL begins pilot program using Michelin UPTIS airless tires

Singapore – Michelin has partnered with DHL for on-road trials of the Michelin UPTIS airless tire. Nearly 50 DHL Express vans will begin running on the new tires to make last-mile deliveries in Singapore by end-2023. The pilot program begins with the first vehicles making the first delivery trips from January 10. Thanks to a partnership between DHL and Michelin, the airless prototype tire, has taken another step forward.
The Michelin UPTIS prototype is a puncture-proof wheel/tire assembly with no compressed air and is intended for cars and light vans. The air has been replaced by a revolutionary structure capable of supporting the vehicle. This ensures the wheel’s robustness and guarantees driving comfort and safety. It was designed as a plug-and-play solution that allows users to drive conveniently and not worry about road hazards impacting the tires. It also limits the number of tires scrapped due to punctures.

The company says with the UPTIS tire, DHL can optimize its fleet’s productivity and ensure business continuity, as tire pressure issues and punctures are eliminated. This will lower the frequency of tire replacement, leading to less wastage.
Christopher Ong, MD, DHL Express Singapore said, “As a pioneer in green logistics, we are excited to partner Michelin to trial its airless tires on our vehicles in Singapore. To drive sustainability efforts here, we have since converted 80 vehicles in our ground fleet to electric vans. This collaboration marks another milestone for us as we set out to green our last-mile operations and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the DHL network globally.”
Bruno De Feraudy, Director – OEM Activities, Michelin Group said, “Michelin UPTIS is a major breakthrough innovation in the tire field. This is a result of some 50 patents linked to the tire’s structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity for innovation in favour of safer mobility that is better for the environment. We are delighted that DHL is trusting Michelin to equip its fleet with the very first Michelin UPTIS tires, marketed one year ahead of schedule.”
Airless technology is the key to Michelin’s vision of a fully sustainable tire by 2050. At present, 20% of tires are scrapped prematurely due to flats and blowouts (12%) or irregular wear and tear caused by poor tire pressure (8%). Based on internal research, Michelin projects that UPTIS airless technology could prevent premature scrapping of up to 200 million tires a year worldwide or 2 million tons of material – a material saving roughly equivalent to the weight of 200 Eiffel Towers.