MICHELIN

Michelin, GM Collaborate on Airless Tires

June 5, 2019 by admin 2 Comments

In the near future, checking tire pressure may become a thing of the past thanks to innovative technology. Specifically, tire manufacturer Michelin and the General Motors Company (GM) are collaborating on updated tire technology that will eliminate the risk of flat tires and blowouts in passenger vehicles equipped with Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) tires. The new tires may appear as soon as 2024 on the Chevrolet Bolt EV.

A Chevrolet Bolt EV equipped with Michelin Uptis tires.

Movin’On Summit Announcement

The two manufacturers jointly announced the engineering and technology breakthrough at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility in Montreal on Tuesday. Later this year, the automaker will begin real-world testing and verification of the Uptis Prototype on a Michigan test group of Chevrolet Bolt EVs. The Bolt is GM’s electric vehicle, introduced in 2017 and sporting a 238-mile electric range.

“General Motors is excited about the possibilities that Uptis presents, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Michelin on this breakthrough technology,” said Steve Kiefer, senior vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors. “Uptis is an ideal fit for propelling the automotive industry into the future and a great example of how our customers benefit when we collaborate and innovate with our supplier partners.”

Scrappage Reduction; No Replacement Tires

Flats and blowouts are no longer an issue in vehicles equipped with Uptis tires. As a result, the Michelin tires offer a significant tie-in to GM’s goal of reducing the number of raw tires used and resultant waste, which is also related to the automaker’s goal of eventually reaching zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.

In particular, the new tires will reduce the number of punctured or damaged tires that must be scrapped ahead of the end of their life cycle. Indeed, Michelin estimates that approximately 20 percent of tires are scrapped annually due to punctures or irregular wear.

Further, it also reduces the use of raw materials as the new technology eliminates the need for spare tires. Replacement tires would also not be needed early on in the life cycle.

Michelin’s Uptis tires are designed to eliminate punctures leading to blowouts.

Say Farewell to Blowouts

The Uptis tires are engineered to last longer as they also eliminate irregular wear and tear caused by improper inflation. Related car accidents caused by flats and blowouts will make driving safer for all.

Michelin says its innovative tires are composed of composite rubber and a “proprietary innovative high-strength resin with embedded fiberglass.” These tires are set within an aluminum wheel assembly.

Autonomous and Electric Vehicles

The company says its tires are specially designed for new forms of mobility, including autonomous and electric vehicles. Moreover, Uptis represents a key component of the tire manufacturer’s VISION concept, which comprises four pillars of innovation: airless, connected, 3D-printed and 100% sustainable (renewable and bio-sourced) tires.

As for the Moving’On Summit, this year’s event is the third annual meeting of sustainability. Since its inception, the summit has been backed by Michelin, which also conceived it.

This year’s summit focuses on five themes of significance:

1. Decarbonization and air quality.

2. Multimodal urban transit and society.

3. Innovative technologies.

4. Goods transportation and multimodality.

5. Circular economy.

The summit welcomes thought leaders from around the world who engage in working sessions, group discussions, and presentations. It also includes “brain dates” whereby participants are paired for 30-minute discussions to share one-to-one ideas based on common interests.

Lastly, the conference includes opportunities for participants to take a seat on zero-emission electric buses and test drive such vehicles as the Toyota Mirai, BMW I8 Roadster, and the BMW IS3 REX.

See Also — Tire Sidewall Code Deciphering 101

Photos coyright GM Company.

Winter Driving School the Michelin and Tire Rack Way

October 10, 2017 by admin 1 Comment

On the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Winter Driving Experience: Kia Cadenza — Kia Cadenza sedans on ice. One fitted with all-season radials, the other with winter tires.

Think “winter driving school” and you might imagine yourself navigating switchbacks in the Rockies on studded tires or with all-season radials wrapped in chains. Indeed, how else might you learn whether a four-set of Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 tires will you keep you planted as you peer cautiously over the slimmest of all guard rails — the only thing separating you from a craggy precipice and an 8,000-foot vertical drop below?

Well, winter driving school can also be conducted indoors and while the experience is certainly different from outdoor programs, you can learn a lot about tire safety, including just how well winter tires work on icy roads. That’s something I learned recently when Tire Rack and Michelin teamed up to present a winter driving program on the grounds of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

And despite an unusually humid and hot September day just as summer was giving way to fall, a team of journalists managed to experience treacherous driving conditions within the chilly confines of the Compton Family Ice Arena.

No, this wasn’t “Disney on Ice,” but something entirely different — the opportunity to compare two Kia-supplied products — Sportage SUVs and Cadenza sedans — and how each vehicle operates on the ice when outfitted with either OEM all-season radials or Michelin winter tires.

Winter Driving Experience: Tom Howell — Yours truly with 2018 Winter Olympic hopeful, Tom Howell.

Tire Rack Tire Distributors

But first, some context about the event. When approached by a PR representative about the experience, I realized I was very familiar with the Michelin brand, but not so much with Tire Rack. A few years back when replacing tires for both vehicles, I went with two complete sets of Michelin radials, purchased at BJs, not Tire Rack. That I could have had tires shipped directly to my home never crossed my mind. Even if it had, I’m sure I would have thought that such shipments were limited to specialty tires and wheels, but I quickly learned otherwise while in Indiana.

Tire Rack is the largest distributor of tires in the US and is also headquartered in South Bend. On the other hand, French company Michelin’s North America headquarters is located in Greenville, South Carolina, where they also manufacture some of their tires. Michelin is an important client for Tire Rack, but they also stock tires from more than two dozen other brands, including Goodyear, Bridgestone, Hankook, Continental, and Cooper, to name a few. BF Goodrich, owned by Michelin, is another Tire Rack choice.

Notre Dame Stadium and a Curling Guest

The evening before the main event, our hosts treated us to a tour of one of the most important shrines on Notre Dame’s campus — that hallowed place wasn’t the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (a tour of the basilica was held separately the next day). Instead, our hosts pushed all the right buttons and used their pull to fling open the gates of Notre Dame Stadium just for our group.

Winter Driving Experience -- Touchdown Jesus — One of the most famous of all murals,
visible from Notre Dame Stadium.

What a pleasant surprise this was for everyone present, myself included — I grew up hearing tale after tale about the Fighting Irish from my Roman Catholic family and community. Many years later and I found myself at Notre Dame, standing on the same field where such legends as Knute Rockne, Joe Theismann, Raghib Ismail and Joe Montana had coached or played.

Immediately after our time on the field, we were shepherded to the stadium’s press boxes where dinner was served. What a terrific view of the stadium, the surrounding area and of a well-known mural popularly known as “Touchdown Jesus.”

While we were still consuming our appetizers, Michelin and Tire Rack introduced a celebrity of sorts — none other than Tom Howell, a 22-year-old man from New Jersey vying to represent the US men’s curling team at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, next February.

The affable Howell shared everything about the sport, including its origin, how the game worked and explained what the screaming teammate phenomenon was about. It turns out the hollering on ice has everything to do with giving players instructions as the 42-pound stone slides across the surface with sweepers working feverishly to ensure the rock comes to rest in its proper place.

Curling may be the most misunderstood of all Olympic sports — the next day Howell provided us with an on-the-ice demonstration, removing much of that frozen mystery.

Winter Driving Experience: Kia Sportage — These Kia Sportage utility vehicles were also tested at the Compton Family Ice Arena.

Winter Tires or Radials?

So, do you really need winter tires where you live? That was the general question as well as the overall thrust of what was officially known as the Michelin/Tire Rack Winter Driving Experience program.

For starters, if you live in Florida, Southern California or in any place in the US that never sees snow or experiences winter conditions, then that answer is clearly no. At the same time, if you live in an area that’s regularly assaulted by winter’s fury, then the answer is yes.

But there is a huge middle ground where winter tires can still prove beneficial and that’s in locations where average temperatures fall below 44 degrees Fahrenheit. We learned that winter tires are much more than snow tires as they provide improved grip on icy roads. Ice may form at 32 degrees, but it can hang around during warmer temperatures. Hit a patch of ice on radials and you may be in trouble.

Winter Driving Experience: Michelin Man — A touch of irony: Tom Howell gives Michelin Man pointers on how to play on ice.

Contrast that with winter tires placed at all four corners and you stand a far greater chance of avoiding a dangerous spin. In all road conditions, winter tires provide shorter braking distance on a variety of winter driving surfaces, ice included.

You can thank the science of improved tread pattern design and technologies for the superior grip as well as tread compounds engineered explicitly to handle snow and ice. And unlike snow tires of years past, winter tires are fine to drive on dry surfaces and at highway speeds — just install them on all four wheels to ensure even handling and ride comfort.

On the Ice

So, driving on ice is nothing new for me, although now that I’m living in central North Carolina, ice is a relatively uncommon event. Still, when it does arrive, I know to stay home — local roads are treated, but not as well as in my native New Jersey, which is firmly in the “get winter tires” belt.

Winter Driving Experience: Tire and Wheel — Wheel and tire combinations wrapped and ready for shipment.

Driving on an ice rink was something new for me and I hadn’t been on a rink of any sort since I was young. Our multiple tests involved driving SUVs on one rink followed by sedans on the other rink. One each of the two pairs of vehicles came with OEM tires (Kumho) — specifically radials — with the other two shod with Michelin winter tires.

Through our various driving scenarios, we were able to judge for ourselves just how well (or poorly) each tire type handled in a variety of driving situations, including acceleration, braking, and cornering. Most impressive were the shorter stopping distances of the winter tires, which will prove especially helpful when driving in heavy traffic on slick wintry roads.

Notably, the front-wheel-drive Cadenza equipped with radials got off to a faster start than the winter tires, then followed by significant fishtailing. Keep in mind that you are not purchasing winter tires for performance, but for driving safety. One further note: Michelin recommends rotating your tires when you swap out your radials in the fall and again in the spring when you store your set of winter tires.

Parting Thoughts

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that our South Bend adventure concluded with a trip to the Tire Rack headquarters and warehouse where we witnessed firsthand how tires are distributed. Not to mention men were on forklifts nearly everywhere — moving pallets, pulling orders and sifting through stock. Specialty wheels, including some already set within tires, are also part of that stock.

The grand finale, though was the behind-the-scenes tour and driving experience of Tire Rack’s own test track. A pair of handsome BMW 435i Gran Coupes were on hand with instructors behind each wheel. After a brief lap orientation, we enjoyed our own wheel time. Did I say the tracks were wet from soaker spray? They were, which only added to the experience. Switchbacks, slaloms and tight corners beckoned, inviting us to push each Bimmer to the limits, supplying a fitting conclusion to this Michelin/Tire Rack event.

Winter Driving Experience: Tire Rack Track — Track time on the very wet Tire Rack track.

Disclaimer: The cost of this trip was funded by Tire Rack and Michelin, who provided air transportation, food, lodging and swag.

Ford Announces Winter Tire Package for Upcoming Focus RS

February 18, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

The top-of-the-range Ford Focus RS offers a unique winter prep package.

The Ford Focus RS cannot arrive in North America soon enough for enthusiasts. As the work of Ford Performance, this hot hatchback on steroids promises to be the fastest machine this side of a Mustang GT. Its all-wheel drive goodness should give a certain Volkswagen Golf model a run for the money, no matter the season.

Yet, the Ford Motor Company has taken no chances that Focus RS owners will become stranded due to snow or lose out to a competitor. Even before this model arrives stateside, Ford has prepared a winter tire and wheel option as a factory accessory. In doing so, the package meets Ford Performance’s exacting standards. It is also the first-ever factory-purpose winter tire package offered by an original equipment manufacturer in North America.

Thrills and Chills on White Powder

Ford says that the Focus RS Winter Wheel & Tire Package offers a set of wheels and tires unique to the RS. The package was designed to ensure Focus RS owners are not just able to travel around in the snow, but do so while maintaining their driving enjoyment.

“We started this project knowing what our RS customers really want out of their cars,” says Adam Wirth, chassis supervisor, Ford Performance. “This tire package allows RS owners to continue spirited driving even in the snow.”

Nevertheless, the Ford Performance team had their work cut out for them as they understood that Focus RS customers would demand nothing less than equipment optimized for winter. Furthermore, the performance team was also tasked with ensuring that the tires and wheels met certification requirements — no easy task considering that winter-only tires had never previously been authored. Thus, the Ford Performance team had to create a new set of standards befitting the absolute worst winter circumstances.

Field Testing in Michigan and Sweden

Ford’s engineers and technicians went to work by testing the new standards at a pair of locations in northern Michigan and Sweden, with the plan to guarantee the qualify and performance levels expected. A comprehensive array of tires and wheel combinations were examined. Specifically, ride, handling, and performance attributes in an assortment of wintry conditions were carefully observed and recorded before a winning arrangement was selected.

That arrangement is composed of 225/40R18 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 tires mounted to an all-new 18×7.5-inch wheel, paralleling the characteristics of the base Focus RS option, yet swathed in sparkle silver to conceal salt spray. Ford says the set includes tire pressure monitoring sensors along with fully mounted and balanced center caps and prepared for dealer installation.

Notably, the wheel and tire are narrower, what Ford says will provide improved snow traction, while the overall diameter is smaller, so owners can outfit chains if required.

Explained Wirth, “We fully expect our more extreme-weather customers to take advantage of the ability to use snow chains. Settings are completely driver-preference. Customers are able to utilize all four drive modes to suit their driving style in winter conditions.”

Standard in Canada, Available in the US

Available only in North America as a $1,995 option, the Focus RS Winter Wheel & Tire Package comes standard on every Focus RS delivered in Canada. The Focus RS arrives at dealerships in North America beginning this spring.

Production of the all-new Focus RS is already underway. Built in Germany, the new model should help Ford maintain its success in a narrow, but highly competitive hatchback segment. US sales of the Focus ST increased by 9 percent last year and by 4 percent for the Fiesta ST.

Besides the Focus RS, Ford Performance is bringing two other models to the market this year: the Ford F-150 Raptor this fall and the Ford GT super car later in the year. By 2020, Ford Performance will have 12 performance vehicles available globally.

Ford Focus RS photos copyright the Ford Motor Company.

5 Ways to Celebrate the 4th With Your Car

July 4, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

Friends, family, food and fireworks. There is something special about the 4th of July, a date marking America’s independence from Britain.

I have fond memories of the holiday dating back to the 1960s as a boy growing up in New Jersey. Our town kicked off the celebration with a parade and followed up in the evening with band shell music and fireworks.

fireworks and classic cars that were part of the parade, beautiful American-made works of art from the Model T to fin-tailed Cadillacs.

The day has certainly changed for our family. We now reside in North Carolina and live in a community where a parade is not held. That makes sense, though, as the hot temperatures make standing streetside with limited shade an undesirable prospect. But, that means there won’t be a series of cars to take in for my viewing pleasure.

Instead of a parade, I think I’ll get with some neighbors and have some fun with our own cars. That will happen BEFORE the festivities begin and the heat sets in.

1. Wash and wax — Yes, my car is due for its semi-annual wax. This time, I’m going to follow a suggestion made by Popular Mechanics and will work on taking the haze out of the plastic headlights. My neighbor owns a Mothers Powerball and I’m going to borrow it.

2. Clean and replace Inside, my car has some gum that someone dropped on the floor in the back. That gum is now part of the carpet and I plan to remove it. I have no idea if this ice cube method really works, but I think it is worth a try. I’ll reward my hard work by installing new rubber mats front and back.

3. Tidy the trunk I’m certainly not a person that throws stuff in the trunk and forgets it. Indeed, besides the spare and the lift, there is little else left in it. Still, I have a small emergency kit I’ll be placing in it and I’ll recheck the spare to make sure it is ready for duty when I need it.

4. Rubber or not Speaking of tires, I have it on my calendar to rotate same, but I’ll let my tire retailer do it as part of its lifelong Michelin warranty. The wheels, however, continue to accumulate brake dust and need special attention. I have a wheel cleaner that does the trick and will use a soft brush to get into those areas I might miss with my cloth.

5. Take it for a ride Following a morning work out with my car, I think I’ll convince my neighbors to go for a ride. It may not be in parade condition, but it will most certainly look much better than it did the day before. I’ll also ask my buddy, Tim, to bring out his 67 Skylark GS and see if we can head out to the local fishing hole before our wives and kids beg us to come back home.

Happy 4th to you and yours!