Michelin tests its UPTIS technology with the French courier service

The delivery vehicle fleet of La Poste, the French postal service, will receive a significant upgrade thanks to the implementation of new technology. These are the MICHELIN UPTIS non-pneumatic tyres, which will be fitted to 40 vans of the company.

This collaborative project between La Poste and Michelin is a first in France and in Europe. The first three vehicles equipped with this technology will begin to run from 27 June. This partnership between the two companies will last for two years, with the aim of assessing the performance and efficiency of the non-pneumatic tyres under real-world delivery conditions.

The implementation of these non-pneumatic tyres on La Poste’s delivery vans will be carried out gradually. By 2024, it is expected that a total of 40 vehicles equipped with MICHELIN UPTIS will carry out delivery services in the cities of Lesquin, Valenciennes and Douai, located in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

“We are especially pleased to collaborate with Michelin, whose technical expertise and innovations have been at the service of our mobility for more than a century,” said Philippe Dorge, Chief Executive of the La Poste Group, in charge of Services-Mail-Parcels. Bruno De Feraudy, Director of OE Activities at the Michelin group, said: “We are delighted that La Poste, the French company with the largest vehicle fleet, 50,000 vehicles, has chosen MICHELIN UPTIS.”

Michelin UPTIS Technology

The UPTIS technology, short for Unique Puncture-proof Tire System, is an airless tyre developed in partnership with Maxion Wheels, supplier of a specific wheel for this tyre. This revolutionary technology has been tested on different continents and has covered nearly 3 million kilometres. Its effectiveness and safety have been proven. It has now been tested for last-mile delivery, which refers to managing the transport of the parcel from the last logistics warehouse to final delivery, and will be used on La Poste’s vans.

These tyres offer a host of advantages for the performance and comfort of these vehicles. Instead of air, these wheels use an innovative structure capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle, thus guaranteeing comfort and safety while driving. One of their advantages is the elimination of the risk of punctures, thereby avoiding delays due to incidents like this in the delivery service. Another advantage is the reduction in tyre-change costs that La Poste will save.

MICHELIN UPTIS is the only airless tyre currently running on public roads open to traffic in real-world conditions. Although we have not yet been able to see them in Spain, these tyres must be approved for road use, but Michelin has obtained an exemption from the CNRV (National Vehicle Type-Approval Centre in France) to run the only airless tyre on open roads.

Michelin UPTIS image gallery