Get FinancingADAC Study Finds Michelin Tires Generate Fewest Particulates & Perform Safely
Europe’s largest motoring association, Germany’s ADAC, recently evaluated the performance and wear characteristics of nearly 100 summer and winter tires from 15 manufacturers. The goal of the study was to quantify the tires’ impact on the environment, among other things.
The resulting report cross-referenced the tires’ tread life against their real-world performance in order to determine whether there are any trade-offs with more environmentally friendly tires that generate fewer TRWP (tire and road wear particles) as the road surface abrades their rubber compounds. According to Michelin, its tires produced very low levels of particulates in nearly all sizes and tread patterns, while also performing strongly in safety tests.
“It is imperative. . . to emphasize not only tire performance in driving conditions, but also the environmental behavior of a tire in particular,” the report states. “Michelin is one of the few tire manufacturers to have recognized this need and has specifically geared its tire development towards this.”
A 15K Trial
ADAC’s comprehensive test put the tires through 9,320 miles (15,000 kilometers) of driving on urban, country, and highway roads. The test vehicles drove in wet and dry conditions, as well as in snow where appropriate.
The tires’ tread depth when new was logged and compared with the amount of material they shed over the course of the test. This revealed the various tires’ abrasion rates and expected lifespan, or the amount of mileage they would provide before reaching their wear limits. Along with the particles released from each tire while driving, the TRWP calculations also factored in particles of sand, soil, leaf residue, water, and other substances on the road generated by contact with the tires.
Michelin says that its tires “in almost every case. . . emerged on top for low particulate levels,” and averaged 3.2 ounces (90 grams) of tire abrasion per 621 miles (1,000 km) driven. The manufacturer’s Cross Climate+ tire (185/65 R15) had the lowest abrasion rate in the entire test at 2 oz (58 g) per 621 miles (1,000 km). Michelin said its tires “also performed consistently well in all safety tests, wet and dry, even when worn.”
From Heavy Trucks To Motorcycles
Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin manufactures commercial tires across all markets. The company designs its tires to maintain their performance from new on down to the wear limits on their tread, and estimates that if every car in Europe had tires of Michelin’s quality, it could save 7.3 million tons (6.6 million metric tons) of carbon dioxide each year.
Source: Michelin