MICHELIN INTRODUCES NEW X-ICE SNOW WINTER TIRE

New-generation X-Ice tire provides improved snow and ice performance, winter after winter

Michelin introduced the MICHELIN^® X-Ice^® SNOW tire ― the new generation of its superior winter tire

designed for maximum mobility and safety, winter after winter ― in a special demonstration last week.

The new X-Ice SNOW winter tire for passenger cars and SUVs has been developed, tested and proven in Michelin’s Nordic test centers under the most rigorous constant extreme-winter driving conditions. Notably, 85% of Michelin’s North American volume for the X-Ice SNOW tire will be produced in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Testing reveals that the new MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tire features improved snow performance and braking as compared to its predecessor¹, stops nearly 3 meters (10 feet) shorter on ice than a leading competitor², and lasts up to one additional winter season than the average of leading competitor tires.³

“The new MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tire is designed to give drivers peace of mind when driving in extreme winter conditions,” says Sylvaine Cuniberti, Michelin’s marketing director. “We have an exceptional winter tire with a new tread design and innovative technologies, resulting in improved snow performance¹ and leadership in ice braking⁴.  The MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW provides drivers and passengers with long-lasting winter performance and continues to perform as an industry leader as it wears^3,4, while being covered by a segment-exclusive limited treadwear warranty.”

The new MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tire provides the necessary traction to overcome extreme winter conditions by relying on innovations that support the key characteristics of a winter tire:

·       Next-generation V-shaped tread design: providing 100% use of the contact patch for optimal grip performance on snow and ice and for exceptional slush performance⁵. Maintains its shape even when worn to continue providing grip in winter conditions.

·       FLEX-ICE 2.0™ tread compound: a unique rubber mix for use in a wide range of winter temperatures with a full silica-based compound to maintain flexibility in severe cold climate conditions.

·       MICHELIN EverGrip™ technologies: an innovative tread compound with rigid polymer for improved grip on both snow and ice for the duration of the wear life.¹

·       Two types of full-depth, interlocking 3-D sipes: for an increased claw effect on snow and ice, and for long-lasting biting edges.

The MICHELIN X-Ice SNOW tire replaces Michelin’s X-Ice^® Xi3^™ and Latitude X-Ice^® Xi2^™ tire lines and will be available Fall 2020 in 82 sizes with speed ratings T and H for passenger vehicles, CUVs and SUVs using 14 to 22-inch rim diameters. An additional 41 sizes will be introduced starting Fall 2021.

For more details https://michelinmedia.com/x-ice-snow/

1 New, at 10,000 km, and when worn to 4 mm and 2 mm tread depth, the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW tire offers shorter snow and ice stopping distances on average than its predecessor, based on third-party snow braking test (between 35 km/h and 5 km/h) and ice braking test (between 30 km/h and 5 km/h), in December 2019 and January 2020: (1) on a Volkswagen® Golf 1.5 TSI  comparing the MICHELIN®  X-Ice® SNOW tire versus MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3 in tire size  205/55R16 94H XL, and (2) on a Volkswagen® Tiguan comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW SUV tire versus MICHELIN® Latitude® X-Ice® Xi2 in tire size 235/55R19 105H XL.2 Based on third-party ice braking test (between 30 km/h and 5 km/h) in December 2019 and January 2020, in a Volkswagen® Tiguan comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW SUV tire versus NOKIAN® Hakkappeliitta R3 SUV in tire size 235/55R19 105H XL. Tires mechanically buffed, then 8,000 km performed in real usage in North Finland, until worn to 4 mm tread depth before being tested.3 Based on third-party longevity tests, in North Finland between October 2019 and January 2020, on a Volkswagen® Golf 1.5 TSI comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW tire versus BRIDGESTONE® Blizzak WS-90, CONTINENTAL® Viking Contact 7, NOKIAN® Hakkappeliitta R3, GOODYEAR® UltraGrip Ice 2, Pirelli® Ice Zero FR in tire size 205/55R16 94H XL. 12,000 kilometres driven per winter is estimated from annual average kilometres driven in Canada per vehicle by Desrosiers Automotive Consultants. A winter season is defined as six months.4 Based on third-party ice braking test on a Volkswagen® Tiguan (between 30 km/h and 5 km/h), in December 2019 and January 2020, comparing: (1) the MICHELIN®  X-Ice® SNOW SUV tire versus, BRIDGESTONE® Blizzak DM-V2, CONTINENTAL® Viking Contact 7, NOKIAN® Hakkappeliitta R3 SUV, GOODYEAR® UltraGrip Ice WRT SUV and TOYO® Observe GSI5 in tire size 235/55R19 105H XL and (2) on a Volkswagen® Golf 1.5 TSI comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW tire versus BRIDGESTONE Blizzak WS-90 and Blizzak Ice, CONTINENTAL® Viking Contact 7, NOKIAN® Hakkappeliitta R3, GOODYEAR® UltraGrip Ice 2 and PIRELLI® Ice-Zero FR in tire size 205/55R16 94H XL. All tires mechanically buffed, then 8,000 km performed in real usage in North Finland until worn to 4 mm tread depth before being tested. 5 Based on: (1) internal hydroplaning longitudinal acceleration test performed in France in March 2019, on a Volkswagen® Golf 7 comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW tire versus MICHELIN® X-Ice® Xi3 in tire size 205/55R16 94H XL and on: (2) internal hydroplaning curve test performed in Japan in February 2019, on an AUDI® A4, comparing the MICHELIN® X-Ice® SNOW tire versus MICHELIN® X-Ice® Xi3 in tire size 205/55R16 94H XL.