A turning point in history…In May 2015, Michelin will launch the MICHELIN CrossClimate in Europe, the first summer tyre with winter certification.
The new MICHELIN CrossClimate is the fusion of summer and winter tyre technology – technologies which until now were thought to be incompatible.
The new MICHELIN CrossClimate delivers safety with simplicity and economy. The motorist can drive throughout the year, regardless of weather variations, with just one set of tyres: MICHELIN CrossClimate.
The MICHELIN CrossClimate is a truly innovative tyre as it adapts to different climatic situations. It is the only tyre which combines the advantages of summer tyres and winter tyres.
- It brakes in short distances on dry ground.
- It has the highest European label rating of “A” for wet braking.
- It is certified for winter use, identifiable by the 3PMSF (3-Peak Mountain Snow Flake) symbol on the sidewall of the tyre. This means it can even be used in countries where fitting winter tyres is a legal requirement.
The MICHELIN CrossClimate tyre is the epitome of the Michelin Total Performance ethos: one tyre with summer performance, winter performance, energy efficiency and comfort. The CrossClimate is a stunning addition to Michelin’s existing catalogue of summer and winter tyre ranges – the latter still being important in certain markets and under certain conditions.
The MICHELIN CrossClimate sets new benchmarks by combining three technologies:
1. An innovative tread compound Firstly the tread area is extremely supple and increases the ability of the compound to adhere to the slightest roughness of the road surface under all conditions (dry, wet, and snow) Secondly, a new material beneath the tread optimises the energy efficiency of the tyre by reducing heat generation. Michelin’s engineers have reduced this heat build-up by introducing the latest-generation silica into the rubber mix – thus improving the fuel efficiency of the MICHELIN CrossClimate.
2. The combination of a unique V tread pattern with new 3D interlocking sipes This unique V tread pattern, with an evolutionary angle, optimises grip on snow:
- Laterally, due to the angle of the central area of the tread
- Longitudinally, due to the angle being more flared in the shoulder areas
3. New self-blocking 3d sipes The V tread pattern is combined with new self-blocking 3D sipes – ultra-wavy, varying in thickness and with complex geometry, these full depth sipes produce a claw effect on snow and thus increase traction.
The vertical and lateral undulations provide the self-blocking function, binding together for greater rigidity in the tread block. This results in improved tyre stability, whatever forces it faces: longitudinal force when braking and accelerating and lateral force when cornering. As a result, driving precision and general dry weather performance are improved. With this combination of advanced technologies, the overall rigidity of the tread is enhanced which not only improves driving precision on dry ground but also maximizes tyre life.
This blend of advanced technology, plus the presence of EverGripTM technology in the shoulder, delivers excellent performance on snow, precision in the dry, and longevity.
The innovative combination of bevel-edged tread blocks with high-performance sipes ensures optimum contact with the road surface to improve dry braking performance. The design also combines the addition of these bevelled corners with complex and full-depth sipes for excellent braking and traction on snow.
To create the CrossClimate, Michelin put its knowledge of driver behaviour at the heart of the development process. Michelin’s goal is to provide the most suitable tyre for every application and every type of driving. This approach is put into action in three stages.
1. Understand Motorists face unexpected weather changes, rain, snow and temperature drops – sometimes in the same hour. The solutions they have available today, or the attitudes they adopt, do not address those challenges fully. According to Michelin’s research it appears that:
- 65% of European motorists use summer tyres all year, jeopardising their safety in cold weather, snow and ice. These figures are 20% in Germany, where regulations require winter tyres to be fitted in winter conditions, and 76% in France, where there are no regulatory constraints (Source GFK – Study European consumers behaviors – 2014)
- 4 in 10 European motorists view the seasonal tyre change as a constraint and leave it until the very last minute to change (Source Ipsos – Purchasing Behaviors Winter Tyres 2014/2015). Those who cannot or do not accept the cost and inconvenience refuse to put winter tyres on their cars at all
- 3% of drivers in Germany and 7% of drivers in France use their winter tyres all year, compromising dry braking, particularly in warm weather, and increasing fuel consumption.
2. Innovate Innovation allows Michelin to achieve the perfect balance between advanced technology and use. Each year, Michelin invests more than 640 million euros in its R & D activities, carries out 75,000 tests among its users around the world and surveys around 11,000 tyre buyers.
3. Deliver The new MICHELIN CrossClimate meets an ongoing need for safety and mobility.
When it is launched in May 2015, the MICHELIN CrossClimate will be available in 23 different sizes from 15 to 17 inches, covering 70% of the European market. Further sizes are scheduled for 2016.
The new MICHELIN CrossClimate delivers safety with simplicity and economy. The motorist can drive throughout the year, regardless of weather variations, with just one set of tyres: MICHELIN CrossClimate.
Development background of the MICHELIN CrossClimatein 6 figures
- 7
The number of countries in which the tyre has been tested: Germany, Canada, Finland, France, Poland, Spain and Sweden. - 36
The number of months that the tyre took to design, from a blank sheet of paper to the press launch of the tyre, on March 2, 2015. It only took 3 years of development when, in a more regular schedule, 4 years and 8 months are required. The development time of the new MICHELIN CrossClimate was 1.5 times faster than other car tyres. - 70
The number of degrees Celsius that the temperature range of tests were conducted over. The tests were carried out with external temperatures ranging from -30 ° C to + 40 ° C. - 150
The number of engineers and experts who have worked on the design, testing, industrialisation and manufacture of the MICHELIN CrossClimate. - More than 1,000
The number of laboratory tests done on materials, tread and casing. - 5,000,000
The number of kilometers traveled during the dynamic, wear and endurance tests. This is 125 times around the earth, at the equator.
