John Deere teams up with Michelin, adds ZTrak mowers

Michelin X Tweel Turf Airless Radial Tire on John Deere QuikTrak Photos: John Deere

John Deere teamed up with Michelin to offer the X Tweel Turf Airless Radial Tire for the 2018 R Series QuikTrak stand-on mowers or as a standalone parts purchase.

“Since first launching in 2014, the Michelin X Tweel Turf Airless Radial Tire has been extremely popular with our customers, providing a solution that helps them to reduce downtime due to tire maintenance,” said Carl Agee, product manager of John Deere. “By expanding this technology to our QuikTrak line, we are now able to offer our stand-on mower customers increased uptime by eliminating flats.”

The Michelin X Tweel Turf lasts two to three times longer than a pneumatic tire with equal tread depth, according to the company.

The product provides a more consistent height of cut, as there is no fluctuating tire pressure, and landscapers no longer have to spend time checking or optimizing tire pressure, as the product requires no air, John Deere said.

The product will be available for purchase in 2018 from John Deere dealers.

Z955M zero-turn mower Photos: John Deere

In addition to the Michelin X tire, John Deere added two commercial zero-turn mowers to its lineup: the ZTrak Z945M and the ZTrak Z955M.

“Our customers are hardworking and need equipment that is just as hardworking as them,” said Nick Minas, product manager of John Deere Commercial Mowing. “They demand higher horsepower EFI machines to more efficiently tackle varied mowing activities. With the latest additions to our ZTrak mower line, we’re satisfying the needs of our professional customers while providing additional value with increased comfort and ease-of-use features.”

The Z945M features a 27-hp (20.1 kW), 824 cc EFI engine, and the Z955M features a 29-hp (21.6 kW), 824 cc EFI engine. Multiple deck sizes are offered for both mowers—the 60-inch side discharge or 60-inch Mulch on Demand is available on both models and a 72-inch side discharge is also available on the Z955M.

In addition to increased power and improved fuel economy, the new models also feature enhanced ride comfort and ease-of-use on these new models with an optional premium suspension seat on the M and R series machines, John Deere said. The newly designed seat offers a thicker bottom cushion, additional padding on the back with ergonomic contouring and adjustable armrests.

All new Z900 Series ZTrak mowers feature an enlarged and angled fuel filler neck to complete fueling with less mess.

Photos: John Deere