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The Michelin PLR, internal name Citroën DS PLR Break, Poids Lourd Rapide means "fast Truck", nicknamed as Mille Pattes, the French word for centipede, is a tire evaluation test car. The single-item based on a Citroën DS Break., built in 1972 by French tire manufacturer Michelin, when Michelin was a Shareholder of car manufacturer Citroën. The PLR was used on the Test Track Ladoux, in Clermont-Ferrand. Michelin does no longer use the vehicle for evaluation, but still as promotional vehicle at fairs and exhibitions, most time parked in the Michelin Museum in Clermont-Ferrand.
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Construction
The ten-wheeler uses the hydropneumatic suspension design, based on the Citroën DS platform. The steering controls all the four front wheels. Tires to wheel hubs are parts of the Citroën H Van.
Two 454 Chevrolet Big-Block engines are installed in the tail of the PLR, one for driving the vehicle, the other driving the sample tire, located in the middle of the PLR. Air intake for cooling the engines are located both sides the PLR, windows had been replaced by grids.
The PLR is 2.45 meters (8.0 ft) wide and 7.2 meters (24 ft) long. Installed lead raised the weight to 9.5 metric tons (21,000 lb). In the center part of the stretched vehicle, the sample tire unit is installed. Controlled by hydraulic, the sample can be lowered and aligned in various positions. Evaluating tires for commercial vehilces was feasible. The PLR reaches up to 180 kilometers per hour (110 mph) top speed. Two fuel tanks are installed, 90 liters (24 U.S. gal) each.