Tyre Giant Michelin added Alpin 5 to its winter tyre portfolio at an event held in Austria last month. The tyre, Michelin says, is a result of immense research that was done with the aim of understanding the usage of cold weather tyres better. The tyre maker aptly illustrated its “one season, one tyre” principle at the launch.
Michelin to Change the Perception of Winter Tyres
Michelin’s Alpin 5 has been designed with 12% increase in tread pattern, 16% increase in sipes and 17% greater void ratio. Though it exhibits enhanced performance in snow and ice, Michelin focused on its exceptional wet and dry handling in winters during the launch. Michelin garnered the support of experts in meteorology and accidentology to elucidate why it is so and why is Alpin 5 ideal for European nations with ‘black’ winter roads.
Michelin emphasised the presence of just two seasons almost everywhere in Europe, contrary to the popular belief. The tyre maker has simplified varied climatic conditions in Europe on a theory that its Total Performance mantra is based on a single limitation – the range of operational temperature of its tyre compounds. It broadly explained that summer tyres perform best during the 6-8 summer months while winter tyres are better for the 4-6 colder months.
Manufacturers design high-end winter tyres to conform to more performance criteria than the characteristics usually perceived by end user as any winter tyre’s basic purpose. Michelin said that establishing the dual-season model let it better assess the gamut of conditions in which cold weather tyres are required to perform. The tyre manufacturer has invested an annual sum of €620 million in R&D pertaining to developing cold weather tyres, in partnership with road safety and accidentology associations.
Michelin Alpin 5 – Features and Technologies
The latest Alpin 5 clubs two key technologies related to (a) the tyre’s directional tread pattern, and (b) its rubber compound composition. Alpin 5’s tread band functions to result into a novel effect, which Michelin calls “rack and pinion”. Due to this phenomenon, the tyre resists aquaplaning and grips the snow better compared to the precursor, Alpin A4. Alpin 5’s deeper grooves and enhanced void ratio builds a snow footprint, which, in turn, activates the said effect.
Redesigned sipes are now more in number, which enhances the tyre’s surface grip and hence traction. The higher in number and repositioned tread patterns initiate a self-blocking mechanism; Michelin calls it the “StabiliGrip” technology. Alpin 5, thus, has an enlarged footprint and as a result, offers increased stability.
The new tyre’s tread compound, used as standard in cold weather tyres, contains high amount of silica and, additionally, functional elastomers. These constituents enhance uniformity of the rubber compound containing high amount of silica. The tyre maker calls this new method “Innovative Tread Compound Technology”. Michelin explains that this process is what lets the tyre exhibit enhanced grip on wet surfaces and snow, while offering high energy efficiency.
Alpin 5’s new rubber is derived using the French firm’s fourth-gen advanced Helio Compound technology. The rubber contains sunflower oil, which retains tyre’s softness at low temperatures. The tyre, hence, offers high flexibility plus grip.
Michelin will offer its new Alpin 5 in 27 sizes from autumn 2014.
Source: Tyre Blog
Published: 17 Mar 2014