GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michelin has introduced a new version of its most well known steer tire with a very bold guarantee: 30 percent more miles than the competition in long-haul applications. The tire also features a three-retread limited warranty.

The new XZA3+ Evertread steer tire, EPA SmartWay-verified, is said to deliver the same fuel-economy performance as the previous-generation XZA3, with no compromise in traction or handling either.

The secret is the XZA3+ tire's new patent-pending 'Dual Compound Tread'. This technology allows tire designers to utilize multiple rubber compounds at different places in the tread, Michelin explains. One compound is specifically engineered to control tread stiffness and stress to reduce irregular wear, delivering tread life without compromising other characteristics. Another compound promotes fuel efficiency and keeps the tire’s operating temperatures low, guarding the casing for retreading. Casing integrity is improved through the enhanced inner liner, bead area and rectangular bead bundle.

The XZA3+ Evertread tire is available now in four G-load range sizes: 11R22.5, 275/80R22.5, 11R24.5 and 275/80R24.5; as well as two H-load range sizes: 11R22.5 and 275/80R22.5.

"The tire will be a little more expensive [than the XZA3] but the value really is there," says Ted Becker, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Truck Tires.