All-new Sport Touring Radial surpasses segment benchmarks with extraordinary wet grip, even wear and long life
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Jan. 10, 2011) – MICHELIN® enters into 2011 with the introduction of the Pilot® Road 3 tire, ideal for motorcycles as varied as the Honda VFR800, BMW R 1200 RT and SuzukiBandit 1250S. Enhancing the company's Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial tire lineup, the Pilot Road 3 tire features the latest-generation 2CT dual-compound technology, with a soft rubber compound on the tread shoulders and a wear-resistant compound down the middle, and all-new "XST" X-Sipe technology. The MICHELIN Pilot Road 3 tire goes on sale in January 2011.
"As the Sport Touring Motorcycle tire market grows, Michelin responds with the new Pilot Road 3 tire," said Gary Midkiff, vice president of Michelin North America's two wheel division. "Tires in this segment have to be adaptable to many different types of motorcycles, as well as a variety of weather and riding conditions. With its XST X-Sipes, the Pilot Road 3 tire will be the benchmark of the Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial class."
The most distinctive feature of the MICHELIN® Pilot Road 3 tire is its revolutionary new X-Sipe Technology (XST), which adds a unique look to the distinctive tread pattern pioneered on the MICHELIN® Pilot® Road 2 tire. The full-depth sipes help evacuate any water underneath the tire by allowing additional draining capacity of the tread as well as generate pressures at the edge of the sipe blade to break up water film. Besides offering superior wet traction, the XST sipes have the added benefit of promoting long tread life and even wear characteristics.
About Michelin North America
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company has earned a long-standing reputation for building innovative premium tires. In addition to tires, the company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs about 22,700 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants.