Michelin, tires that make the difference

Despite its apparent simplicity, the tire results from the combination of over two hundred components and materials, arranged in accordance with an architecture and a manufacturing process that provide them with multiple performances. Global leader in tires, Michelin is currently committed to overcoming a new challenge: the all sustainable tire. 

The design of a tire is much more complex than it appears. In fact, it is based on the combination of over two hundred different components and materials: natural and synthetic rubber, polymers, reinforcing loads such as silica or carbon black, metal reinforcements, textiles; each of them performing very specific functions. These hundreds of components are then assembled according to a strict manufacturing process that is performed in several steps, from mixing to the final control, by way of confection, finishing and curing.

Différents composants — Over 200 raw materials are used to manufacture a tire.

1992 3 la silice entrant dans la composition du pneu vert1000 — The silica allows fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to be reduced by lowering the rolling resistance.

The manufacture of a tire: a strict, multi-step process

As the sole point of contact between the vehicle and the road, the tire must deliver multiple and sometimes contradictory performances; true technological challenges that are within Michelin’s grasp thanks to its innovation culture dating back over 100 years, and to its research power.

Chemists, biochemists, mechanical engineers, simulation experts, designers, physicists, etc. Michelin relies on no fewer than 350 different fields of expertise to design this concentrate of technologies that is the tire.

By favoring technological progress, endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans will also have been a major contributor to establishing Michelin’s reputation and the superiority of its tires in terms of lifespan and performance, when both new and used.

Michelin innovations at the 24H of Le Mans

27

“Performances made to last” combine 27 technologies
300

Over 300 tests performed under real conditions to guarantee the tire’s high-performance level throughout its life

During the usage phase, which concentrates between 75% and 90% of the tire’s environmental impact, Michelin acts mainly on four levers that it has perfectly mastered:

During the use phase, which concentrates between 75% and 90% of the tire's environmental impact, Michelin mainly acts on four levers, over which it has perfect control:

Rolling resistance: since the launch of its first energy-saving tire in 1992, Michelin has succeeded in halving the rolling resistance of its tires, which, for example, promotes fuel savings and range for electric vehicles.

Lifespan: for Michelin, designing tires that can be used in complete safety right up to the wear indicator, and thus prevent premature replacement, is essential for reducing environmental impact.

Wear: according to an ADAC test in January 2022, MICHELIN tires wear 28% slower than its competitors’ tires. At the same time, the Group is committed to continuing to globally reduce its wear particle emissions.

Connection: beyond optimizing tire use, digital technologies also allow for reducing their environmental impact. 

Even though the usage phase is decisive in terms of environmental impact, Michelin is committed to acting at every stage of the tire’s life cycle from the choice of raw materials to the tire recycling solutions.

Michelin has set itself a major challenge with this approach: offering an all-sustainable tire by 2050 without lowering performances and taking into consideration the real large-scale industrialization possibilities of the sustainable materials that will be used to make it. To achieve this, Michelin is relying on all of its innovative power and its ability to bring about new disruptive technologies, by promoting open innovation.