Some innovations begin with an idea. Others begin with a concrete need.
The development of the Carat Duchatelet rims for the Mercedes-Maybach 222 and 223 fitted with the Michelin PAX system clearly belongs to the second category.
When you work every day on armored vehicles designed to carry public figures, official delegations or clients who demand the highest level of security, every detail matters. The wheel is obviously no exception. Quite the opposite.
Unlike a conventional wheel, a wheel fitted with the Michelin PAX system is not simply a tire mounted on a rim. It is a complete wheel assembly, designed to allow the vehicle to remain mobile even after a sudden loss of pressure. A characteristic that has become essential on this type of vehicle.
At Carat Duchatelet, this technology has been part of our daily work for many years. Our collaboration with Michelin, together with our expertise in the PAX system, naturally led us to take a further step: developing our own rim.
A rim designed from the outset around precise constraints
Designing a rim compatible with the Michelin PAX system is not a matter of drawing a new design.
The outer profile of the rim must comply with the specifications laid down by Michelin in order to ensure that the PAX system is mounted in full conformity.
But that was only part of the challenge.
The inner profile also had to meet the specific constraints of the armored Mercedes-Maybach vehicles prepared by Carat Duchatelet. The rim had to be compatible with two distinct braking configurations: our reinforced braking system, and the original Mercedes system fitted to the S600 Guard models in particular.
In other words, every millimeter counted.
To carry the project through, Carat Duchatelet defined the entire technical specification and carefully selected the manufacturer responsible for production.
Our teams then validated every stage of development in order to guarantee full compliance with our requirements.
A solution developed for the Mercedes-Maybach
The rims were dimensioned to support a weight of 1,700 kg each, an essential characteristic given the weight of the vehicles concerned and the specific equipment they carry.
Two offsets are available to suit the different configurations:
- Offset (ET) 39, intended for standard production vehicles and able to accommodate the Carat Duchatelet braking system.
- Offset (ET) 56, compatible with the complete original Mercedes Guard assembly.
This approach makes it possible to offer a solution perfectly suited to the different versions of the Mercedes-Maybach 222 and 223 fitted with the Michelin PAX system.
Testing that goes far beyond appearances
Before being approved, a rim must demonstrate that it can withstand the stresses it will encounter throughout its service life.
The rims developed for Carat Duchatelet were therefore subjected to a full program of laboratory testing.
Rolling tests were used to verify their behavior under load, while rotary bending tests reproduced the repeated stresses to which a wheel is subjected over the miles. Impact tests were also carried out in order to assess their resistance under severe loading. Finally, dye penetrant inspections confirmed the absence of cracks after the various test phases. All of these tests were performed in accordance with recognized protocols, notably UNECE R124 and ISO 7141.
Behind a wheel that appears simple at first glance, then, lies a considerable amount of technical validation work.
More than just a rim
Beyond its mechanical characteristics, this rim also carries an identity of its own, specific to Carat Duchatelet.
Its design was developed to sit naturally within the elegant lines of the Mercedes-Maybach while meeting the constraints imposed by the Michelin PAX system. The aim was not merely to create a functional rim, but a rim capable of satisfying technical, aesthetic and industrial requirements at the same time.
A design faithful to the Mercedes-Maybach identity
The development of this rim was not limited to its technical characteristics. Its design was also the result of careful consideration.
Rather than creating an entirely new pattern, Carat Duchatelet deliberately adopted that of the polished Mercedes-Maybach rim. The aim was to preserve the visual identity of the vehicle while meeting the constraints imposed by the PAX system and by the specific features of armored vehicles.
In other words, this rim represents what Mercedes-Benz would most likely have developed had the brand produced an armored version of the Mercedes-Maybach fitted with the Michelin PAX system, as it had done on the previous generation.
This approach therefore makes it possible to integrate a specific technical solution without compromising the aesthetics of the vehicle.
A solution available immediately
Beyond its technical characteristics, the Carat Duchatelet rim also offers an important advantage for professionals and for owners of the vehicles concerned.
Unlike many bespoke components, it is offered at a fixed price and held permanently in stock. This continuous availability limits lead times and ensures a rapid response whenever a replacement or an intervention is required.
For specialized workshops as well as for armored vehicle operators, this control over availability is a genuine asset, guaranteeing a solution that is immediately accessible with no uncertainty over lead times or cost.
Expertise at the service of our vehicles
The development of this rim arose above all from a concrete need: to have a solution perfectly suited to the vehicles produced by Carat Duchatelet.
Our vehicles must be fitted with rims that meet our requirements in terms of engineering, safety and compatibility with the Michelin PAX system. Where the right solution does not exist, we develop it.
This rim illustrates that approach. Designed to meet the specific constraints of the Mercedes-Maybach 222 and 223, it combines technical compatibility, reliability, permanent availability and aesthetic integration, in order to offer a complete solution for Carat Duchatelet vehicles.