Michelin Tires are renowned for their superior quality and dependability. These tires come in various sizes, so you can find the ideal fit for your car.
They strive to produce environmentally friendly options that improve fuel efficiency and reduce waste. One way they do this is by employing a recycling process to transform plastics into rubber.
The Michelin Latitude Tour
The Michelin Latitude Tour is a high-performance tire designed for drivers of crossovers and SUVs. It boasts a silica-based compound and MaxTouch Construction, providing more miles of treadwear with lower rolling resistance. Plus, this tire’s symmetric tread design helps reduce vibrations and road noise.
The Latitude Tour is an ideal option for drivers who want to save money at the pump and enjoy reliable traction on dry and wet roads. It also features Green X Technology, making it energy efficient. Michelin estimates that its fuel-efficient shape and tread compounds could save up to 82 gallons of fuel over its life; according to Michelin.
In addition to offering reliable all-season grip, the Latitude Tour also provides a comfortable ride and precise handling. Its advanced FAZ Technology adds polyester and aramid/nylon filaments under the tread for enhanced grip at higher speeds and an overall stable feel while driving.
For added safety on the road, this tire features a computer-optimized tread design and precision manufacturing that reduce vibrations. This enhances on-road grip, enabling you to maintain your speed and avoid accidents.
This tire features a superior rubber compound for superior grip, durability and longevity. Its wide circumferential grooves and multiple sipes help it resist hydroplaning on wet surfaces, while its independent tread blocks and 3D Active Sipes offer superior snow traction.
The Michelin Latitude Tour boasts a low tread wear rating of 11/32 when new, which can be easily reduced to 5/32 after one year of normal driving. Furthermore, it comes with a 65,000-mile warranty as well as Standard Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty coverage for treadwear and mileage.
My friend with the Ford Escape fitted these tires OEM, and after 15,000 kms of average use they had worn down from 11/32 to 5/32. He has since written a highly critical letter to Michelin in an attempt to have them take back the tires for replacement as it was clear that their purchase was an unnecessary waste of money.
The Michelin CrossClimate2
Michelin is a well-known brand that produces tires for cars, trucks, motorcycles and even space shuttles and cycles. They are known for creating several innovative products like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 tire which stands out among other all-season tires due to its special features.
One of the key characteristics that sets this tire apart is its special rubber compound that works well in both winter and summer weather conditions. Michelin also designed a V-shaped tread pattern which allows the tread to flex and absorb snow for added traction.
The tread design features channels that flush away water as the tire rolls through it, improving traction. Furthermore, the rubber compound is engineered not to break down too quickly in hot conditions – giving your tires a longer lifespan and more miles per year on them.
Another unique feature of this tire is its PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning Technology. This advanced innovation alters the geometry and timing variation of tread elements, effectively decreasing airborne noise in the tire.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 boasts superior braking performance on snow, ice and dry road surfaces due to this innovation. This feature is especially valuable for people living in cold climates who require a tire that can handle winter conditions without affecting their driving season elsewhere.
Michelin CrossClimate2 features a directional tread design as well as 3D SipeLock Technology which allows the treads to flex to absorb snow ice and other abrasives for improved grip on different types of roads. Furthermore, this technology adds hundreds of biting edges to provide enhanced traction on different road surfaces.
After only 25000 km (roughly 20 miles), we’ve already noticed them to be quieter than our other tires on our CX-5, which is nice. Furthermore, road feel is smoother over minor potholes and broken pavement, which is another plus.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
If you need an incredibly grippier track tire that offers ride quality comparable to other high performance summer tires, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup is your best bet. These tires feature a wide bead area which increases their lateral stiffness and responsive handling. Furthermore, they’re reinforced with high modulus rubber compound which reduces road noise and enhances steering precision.
They’re specifically designed for dry tracks and roads, providing enhanced sharpness on dry tarmac – something especially essential to track drivers.
The asymmetric tread design utilizes a high-resistance outer rubber compound for superior dry grip and an aggressive inner lining to resist hydroplaning. This technology can be found as original equipment on Ferrari 458 Speciale, Porsche 918 Spyder and 911 GT3 cars as well as other high-performance vehicles.
These tires feature Michelin’s Track Longevity 2.0 technology, designed to extend your car’s track endurance. Combining Variable Contact Patch 3.0 with race-inspired shoulder construction for crisp cornering and faster lap times.
Additionally, this helps increase traction on the track and prevent aquaplaning – which could result in loss of control and potentially fatal accidents. This is especially important for track drivers who have active vehicle assistance systems installed on their vehicles.
They feature Bi-Compound technology, which utilizes specialized rubber compounds for both wet and dry grip. This marks an improvement over previous Cup 2 tires which were only effective in dry conditions.
Their asymmetric tread design means they can handle heavier loads than previous models and help retain traction at high speeds, an essential requirement for track drivers.
These tires are DOT-compliant and can be purchased through any authorized dealer. The DOT tire code can be located either inside or outside the sidewall of the tire.
To determine the DOT code for a tire, consult either the chart printed on your dealer’s registry card or check online. Typically, this code includes the plant location, manufacturing code and tire age.
The Michelin X-Ice
Michelin X-Ice winter tires are engineered for coupes, sedans, minivans and crossovers to provide drivers with confidence in all kinds of conditions throughout their service life. From clear winter roads to deep snowfall, the X-Ice is designed to deliver reliable grip and stability no matter what conditions arise.
The X-Ice was developed in response to feedback from tire dealers and end users. They wanted better bite in deep snow, less noise on the highway, improved braking on ice, and an eye-catching design that would draw customers in. Furthermore, they desired a longer use life and more complete tire.
Michelin engineers conducted focus groups with dealers and drivers to gain insight on what consumers wanted from a winter tire. It was discovered that people preferred tires that looked more aggressive than their predecessors.
Michelin officials highlighted the X-Ice’s V-shaped tread design with larger center groove and interlocking center rib, which they said helps better evacuate slush and snow from tires.
Other key features include Michelin’s Optimized Tread Block Technology, featuring a directional tread pattern with block edges, micro-pumps and variable angle Cross Z sipes (click image to the left for detailed view). These innovations help minimize hydroplaning while improving handling, treadwear and traction on snow and ice surfaces, according to Michelin.
Scott highlighted how this directional design reduces rolling resistance by 9%, leading to improved fuel economy for drivers.
Another impressive aspect is the X-Ice’s Flex-Ice 2.0 compound, a silica-based rubber that remains flexible even in extreme temperatures. According to Michelin, this new compound offers better braking performance in snowfall than its predecessor and should provide longer wear-and-tear resistance.
In addition to grip, a good winter tire should also provide comfort and an even ride for drivers and passengers. In my testing, the X-Ice Snow performed admirably; its supple yet quiet ride kept my Ford Escape from feeling overly rough during our excursion.
The X-Ice Snow tire is now offered in more sizes than its predecessor, including 18-inch and up rim diameters for SUV and CUV fitments. Scheduled to hit the market this spring, this tire comes with a 40,000 mile warranty.