|
|
Tires for the Las Vegas M-VI
As with your family car, the tires are a very important element of the Las Vegas Bombardier M-VI monorail. The official supplier of wheels, tires, and run flat devices for this monorail is Michelin. There are three different tires used in the Las Vegas monorail.
LOAD TIRES
The load tires are going to be 445/65R22.5 XZA Metro Tires,
which were specifically modified for transit applications. There
will be eight tires per train. The load per tire will be greater
than 15,000 pounds per tire. The inflation pressure will be 145psi,
which helps get to the load capacity. Pure nitrogen will be used
to inflate the tires. The front and back tire on each four car
train has what is called "run flat" capability. There
is a Michelin-made aluminum inner-wheel that permits limping back
to the maintenance yard. Michelin is also making the 22.5 X 14.00"
wheels. Historically, the Mark VI trains that the M-VI is based
on are getting over 100,000 miles on a set of load tires. The
number of miles that they will get under the increased loads and
punishing Las Vegas weather conditions are still under investigation.
Maximum speed on the 4-mile run will be approximately 50mph.
First Bombardier M-VI cars placed on Las Vegas track in 2003.
Photo by John Flores.
M-VI Michelin 445/65R22.5 XZA Metro Tire carries the load.
GUIDE TIRES
The guide tires are going to be 6.00R9 XPMC tires, specifically
made for transit applications. There will be 32 guide tires per
4-car train. At present, each tire will be inflated to (11.5 bar)
168 psi and will be rated for a maximum load of 3,000 + pounds
per tire. The axles for these tires will be spring loaded to help
maintain good contact on both sides of the beam at all times.
All guide tires have Michelin-made "run flat" capability.
Contrast that to the run-flat capability to that of Seattle or
Kuala Lumpur, which use separately attached "hard" wheels
to back up the main tire. The "run flat" capability
on the 6.00R9 XPMC is part of the Michelin tire. Again, pure nitrogen
is used.
M-VI Michelin 6.00R9 XPMC guide tires
STEERING TIRES
There are four steering tires per train, 2 on the front cab
car and 2 on the rear cab car. These will be 150/75R8 XGM tires.
For more details on bogie design, see the Disney/Bombardier
Suspension Page. Note that the guide tire bogie/axle design
is significantly different on the M-VI than on the older Mark
VI used for Walt Disney World
