Michelin PLR
| Industry | Tire manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 28, 1889 |
| Headquarters | Clermont-Ferrand , France |
| Products | Tires |
| Website | www |
The Michelin PLR, internally designated as Citroën DS PLR Break, stands for Poids Lourd Rapide [Break], which translates to "rapid heavyweight" [station wagon]. Commonly referred to by its nickname Mille Pattes (French for centipede), this vehicle was developed as a tire testing platform. Created in 1972 by the French tire company Michelin, which at the time held shares in Citroën, it is built upon the chassis of the Citroën DS Break. The PLR operated on Michelin’s Ladoux Test Track located in Clermont-Ferrand. Although it no longer functions in tire testing, it now serves promotional purposes at various exhibitions and is primarily displayed at the Michelin Museum in Clermont-Ferrand.
Construction
This unique ten-wheeled automobile incorporates Citroën’s hydropneumatic suspension system and features four-wheel steering on the front axle. Its tires and wheel hubs originate from the Citroën H Van.
At the rear, two 350 Chevrolet Small-Block engines are installed: one powers the vehicle itself, while the other drives a centrally positioned test tire. To facilitate engine cooling, air intakes are positioned on both sides, and conventional windows have been replaced with grilles.
The vehicle measures in length and in width, with additional lead ballast increasing its weight to . It is capable of reaching speeds up to . The sample tire assembly is hydraulically adjustable, allowing it to be lowered and aligned precisely for testing commercial vehicle tires. The PLR carries two fuel tanks, each with a capacity of .
Literature
- Björn Marek and Immo Mikloweit: Citroën DS. Das Leben einer Göttin. Komet Verlag, Köln, , pages 82–85 (German)