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Smart tyre management practices can deliver both cost savings and sustainability
In January 2026, global tyre management services company Kal Tire; and world leader in the tyres for mines market, Michelin, jointly released a whitepaper that looked in some detail into how tyre management can be leveraged by mining operations to deliver cost savings and emissions reductions. IM Editorial Director Paul Moore reached out to both companies to get some additional insights into some of the points made and the major issues raised. Titled‘ Unlocking hidden synergies,’ it suggested strategies to help mining operators meet the dual mandate of profit and environmental performance.
In surface mining, tyres are one of the highest operating costs after fuel. They can also influence an operation’ s carbon footprint through mining vehicle fuel consumption( Scope 1 emissions) and value chain activities( Scope 3 emissions). When tyre management is reactive or inconsistent, it can lead to premature wear, elevated fuel usage and unnecessary emissions. However, proactive or predictive tyre strategies, developed collaboratively with OEMs, tyre manufacturers and service providers, and harnessing the latest technologies, can deliver measurable gains in cost savings, productivity and sustainability.
The following is a summary of the highlights of a discussion with Miles Rigney, Senior Vice President- Mining Tire Group at Kal Tire and Adam Murphy, Senior Vice President of Michelin’ s Mining Tire Business Line. The full whitepaper can be located at https:// www. kaltiremining. com / en / unlockinghidden-synergies /
Q Kal Tire through ventures like your Maple Program, has long understood the carbon impact of tyres- but are you seeing more uptake and understanding in the mining industry itself in getting the data, using it and understanding it?
MR Yes, we are definitely seeing more uptake. When we launched the program in 2020, we had about a dozen customers want to be part of it – we now have close to 70 customers on the program across all the regions we operate in. A number of those companies are publicly recognising the value of the Maple Program – and the
Mining tyres- unlocking hidden synergies
A recent whitepaper from Kal Tire and Michelin argues that mining companies don’ t have to choose between cost savings and sustainability – smart tyre management practices can deliver both
carbon savings data they’ ve received from it. They are publicising this Scope 3 data in their sustainability reporting and on LinkedIn.
Q In Michelin’ s view, is there now a more holistic view of how tyre status / condition / performance can directly impact fuel consumption / efficiency and therefore overall carbon footprint?
AM Yes, Michelin continually tests and innovates to uncover opportunities to help our mining customers achieve their safety, productivity, and sustainability ambitions. Today, we have access to a wealth of data on tyre usage, mine site conditions, haul road conditions, and vehicle dynamics, which helps us optimise critical tyre components that impact tyre life, load carrying capacity, speed, and heat build-up. Tyres can help trucks burn less fuel and emit less CO 2 by decreasing the truck’ s rolling resistance. When a mining truck carries a load and operates on hard or soft ground, the tyre deforms and flexes, which generates heat. This heat represents the loss of energy, causing the vehicle to work harder to move forward. Energy-efficient tyres run cooler, which means more energy is available to move the truck forward, less fuel burned, and less CO 2 emitted. In addition to tyre design tyre selection, tyre pressure monitoring systems( TPMS) such as MICHELIN MEMS 4, and predictive tyre management can influence operational costs, productivity, and environmental performance.
Q Can you summarise the increasingly important role Kal Tire’ s KalPRO™ TireSight is playing in smart tyre management and give some indication of success to date?
MR Over the past four plus years, TireSight has expanded from a single station to more than 20 installations across four countries- Canada, Chile, Colombia, and Zambia. There are numerous reasons customers are drawn to TireSight. First its ability to help avoid critical tyre failures, which can lead to unscheduled tyre maintenance, and costly production interruptions. TireSight also enables clients to better identify damaged tires which increases the capacity for preventive repairs. And there is significant value in how TireSight provides early
Adam Murphy, Senior Vice President of Michelin’ s Mining Tire Business Line
Miles Rigney, Senior Vice President- Mining Tire Group at Kal Tire
detection of separation damage, allowing for safe intervention to occur prior to a tyre fire. It delivers a higher inspection frequency compared to manual methods – and customers benefit from expert collaboration with reliability and condition monitoring teams; plus TireSight also provides deeper insights due to the increased collection and analysis of more extensive and thermal tyre data.
Q Are studies like Michelin’ s LCA and your work with Cascadia Scientific helping mining companies to see the true impact of smart tyre management from a sustainability and cost point of view?
AM Yes, studies like these- and others conducted directly with our mining customers- help prove the real impact and cost savings possible with smart tyre management. We have demonstrated case studies where strategies around tyre rotation, tyre selection, cycle times and more help mines achieve significant gains in cost savings and productivity. Specific to the Life Cycle Assessment( LCA), Michelin is committed to minimising a tyre’ s environment impact across its entire lifecycle from extraction of raw materials to their endof-life disposal. Central to this commitment is the adoption of the LCA, a methodology standardised under ISO 14040-44. Since 2023, 100 % of our new product launches must demonstrate an improved LCA score. We have used the LCA tools, for example, to conduct a sensitivity study in a copper mine in Chile running Michelin XDR 3 53 / 80R63 tyres. The study revealed that decreasing the tyre’ s motion resistance and increasing its load carrying capacity had the most
International Mining | APRIL 2026