Michelin has been partnered the FIA Formula E Championship right from the beginning and developed a purpose built 18 inch race tyre for the Spark-Renault SRT_01E electric Formula E car. Besides the size, as it created a league of its own, the tyres are meant to race in all weather conditions. This way money will be saved and the carbon footprint for producing and transporting the tyres will be reduced as well.
In addition, the tyres are able to communicate with teams monitoring the performance of the cars. The tyres are equipped with an RFID chip (Radio Frequency Identification Device) in the tyres’ side walls. “It will ensure their traceability, from their production right through to their return to the factory after use at the racetrack,” explains Serge Grinsin, manager of Michelin Motorsport’s four-wheel programmes.
But it has not been integrated just to identify the tyres. “It will be possible to collect data relating to running conditions including temperature and pressure sensors. It will be possible to record and access information covering the tyre’s entire life-cycle,” Grinsin explains.
With Formula E having its ambition to share as much information and camera footage as they can with the fans, it would be great to find out live during the races which drivers handling the tyres at their best.