Michelin CrossClimate - summer tire with winter certificate

The novelty of the French company is a turning point in the history of car tires.

The world presentation of the new Michelin CrossClimate tire took place in the French village of Divonne-les-Bains, just 16 km from Geneva, on the border between Switzerland and France. Why there? On this day, the prestigious Geneva Motor Show opened its doors, to which media representatives from all over the world have already arrived, and the premiere of the new product of the French company became a significant event.

To this end, Michelin built a unique testing ground, where the qualities of the new tire were demonstrated on dry, wet and snowy roads. The test cars, the new Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308, were shod with the new Michelin CrossClimate as well as the hitherto known all-season tires so that the two tires could be compared. The presentation also included real-world driving on the steep roads of the Jura Mountains, where he was still in power in early March.

Michelin Executive Vice President Light and Lightweight Tires Thierry Scheesch, member of the Michelin Group Executive Committee, presented the new tire for the first time in person to media representatives across Europe.

In May 2015, Michelin, a leader in automotive tires, launched the new Michelin CrossClimate tire in European markets, the first summer tire to be certified as a winter tire. The new Michelin CrossClimate is a combination of summer and winter tyres, technologies that have so far been incompatible.

Michelin CrossClimate is an innovative tire that is safe and reliable in a variety of climates. It is the only tire that combines the benefits of summer and winter tires in one single product. What are the big benefits:

"She stops short distances on dry."

– He receives the best “A” rating set by the European Wet Label.

– The tire is approved for winter use, recognizable by the 3PMSF logo (three-pointed mountain symbol and snowflake symbol on the sidewall of the tire), which indicates its suitability for winter use, including in countries where mandatory use is required. tires for the season.

The new Michelin CrossClimate tire complements Michelin's typical metrics of total mileage, energy efficiency and comfort. This is an addition to the catalog of various Michelin summer and winter tires.

The new Michelin CrossClimate tire is the result of a combination of three technologies:

Innovative tread: It is based on a tread compound that provides the necessary flexibility to increase the tire's ability to overcome even the smallest bumps in the road in all conditions (dry, wet, snow). The second compound is located under the tread, which in turn optimizes the tire's energy efficiency. Has the ability to heat slightly. Michelin engineers have reduced this warming by incorporating the latest generation of silicone into the rubber compound, which in turn results in lower fuel consumption when using Michelin CrossClimate tires.

Unique V-shaped tread pattern with variable angle optimizes snow traction – Lateral load due to the special angle in the central part of the sculpture – Longitudinal load is transferred due to more sloping shoulder areas.

This V-sculpture is combined with new three-dimensional self-locking sipes: super twisted, of different thicknesses and complex geometries, the full depth of the slats creates the effect of a nail on the snow. This increases the traction of the vehicle. This results in better tire stability.

To create this innovative tire, Michelin studied driver behavior throughout the entire tire development process. The goal of a tire manufacturer is to provide the most suitable tires for any application and for any type of driving. The approach went through three stages:

Support Points

Drivers face unexpected changes in climate conditions every day – rain, snow and colder temperatures. And the solutions that tire manufacturers offer them today, or improvements, do not fully satisfy them. So, Michelin research shows that:

– 65% of European drivers use summer tires all year round, compromising their safety in cold weather, snow or ice. 20% of them are in Germany, where the use of special equipment is mandatory in winter conditions, and 76% in France, where there are no regulatory restrictions.

– 4 out of 10 European motorists find seasonal tire changes to be tedious and actually lead to longer tire changes. Those who cannot or do not agree with the expense and inconvenience refuse to put winter tires on their cars.

“From 3% of drivers in Germany to 7% in France use winter tires all year round, which is a compromise with dry braking, especially hot, which in turn affects fuel consumption.

The innovation allows you to find the perfect balance between modern technologies and their use. Michelin invests more than 640 million euros each year in research and development, conducting research among its 75 users worldwide and 000 tire buyers.

The new Michelin CrossClimate tire fully meets the requirements of safety and mobility. At the start of sales in May 2015, the Michelin CrossClimate will offer 23 different sizes from 15 to 17 inches.

They occupy 70% of the European market. The planned supply will increase in 2016. The new Michelin CrossClimate tires offer the highest levels of safety through their simplicity and economy. The driver will drive his car all year round, regardless of weather conditions, with one set of Michelin CrossClimate tires.

Michelin CrossClimate Key Figures

– 7 is the number of countries in which the tire has been tested: Canada, Finland, France, Poland and Sweden.

- 36 - the number of months from the first day of the project to the presentation of the tire - March 2, 2015. The time to design and develop a new product takes three years, and in all other cases it takes 4 years and 8 months. The development and development time for new Michelin CrossClimate tires is 1,5 times shorter than other car tires.

- 70 degrees Celsius, the temperature amplitude of the tests. The tests were carried out at outdoor temperatures from -30°C to +40°C.

– 150 is the number of engineers and experts who worked on the development, testing, industrialization and production of the Michelin CrossClimate tire.

More than 1000 is the number of laboratory tests of materials, sculpture and tire architecture.

– In the course of dynamic and endurance tests, 5 million kilometers have been covered. This distance is equal to 125 orbits of the Earth at the equator.