International Dealer News IDN 152 December 2019/January 2020 | Page 14

news ROOM
Michelin launches nine
new tyres for 2020
Europe's leading scooter tyre
manufacturer by volume (selling 8m of
its City Grip tyres between 2010 and
2018) celebrated its 130th anniversary
in 2019 and has dedicated resources
from its € 648m annual R&D budget
and 6,000 strong R&D team to launch
no less than NINE new tyres for 2020.
The motorcycle tyre market is a growth
sector for Michelin, with the number of
tyres Michelin has sold for motorised
two-wheeled vehicles having doubled
over the past five years, "and we
expect it will double again over the
next half-decade," Executive VP Serge
Lafon told IDN at EICMA.
"As one of the main players in the
quest for safer, cleaner, more
accessible and more efficient forms of
mobility, we also need to be attentive
to the raw materials we use. Within the
next 30 years, some 80 percent of the
raw materials the Group employs to
make its tyres will be sustainable – by
which we mean either renewed or
recycled.
"The Michelin Group’s ability to adapt
to mobility related changes over the
course of its 130-year history is well
documented. Indeed, we have
increasingly
tackled
this
transformation hand-in-hand with
other key players in the domain, and
this has led to partnerships today with
electric motorcycle fleets, bicycle
sharing-schemes and recreational
Michelin 'Power' range
Michelin 'Power' range, "four new tyres aimed at bikers
for whom riding enjoyment is the number one
priority".
'POWER 5' targets sports motorcycle owners
who use their bike intensively on public roads.
The priorities of these riders range from long
tyre life to good grip performance, especially
in wet weather, providing efficient traction
and reassuring handling under braking
conditions.
Power 5 features include an innovative
compound, incorporating silica and carbon
black; 2CT technology (front tyre) and 2CT+
technology (rear tyre); sea-to-land ratio of 11
percent front and rear and a new design and sidewalls
that feature Premium Touch Technology.
mobility stakeholders like Hertz Ride.
"Similarly, the partnerships we have
forged with motorcycle manufacturers
enable Michelin to become involved at
an early stage in the design and
development of new models. This
speaks volumes for Michelin’s
reputation as a leading innovator and
the relationships of trust it has
established around the world with
such major makes as BMW, Honda,
Harley-Davidson, Piaggio, KTM and
Yamaha, to name but a few.
"Because of the increasing scope of
the mobility related challenges we
face, Michelin is determined to cover
all the bases with the same
engagement, which is why we are
investing in the most exacting and
pioneering forms of two-wheel
motorsport on the planet, including
MotoGP and MotoE. When it comes to
performance, we strive unrelentingly
to keep pushing the envelope. At
Michelin, real bridges exist between
our racing and road tyres, and that is
because we use motorsport as a
unique laboratory and an instrument
for innovation.
"For all of these reasons, our nine new
tyres that are due to go on public sale
in 2020 are unprecedented and,
between them, will account for 25
percent of Michelin's sales in 2020."
www.michelin.com
'Power Cup 2' - although essentially
designed for track use, it is type-approved
for road use. It features 2CT technology
(front tyre) and 2CT+ technology (rear
tyre), plus a compound designed
primarily for on-track performance,
sea-to-land ratios of four and five
percent for the front and rear tyres
respectively, enabling it to be type-
approved for road
use, and sidewalls that
feature Premium Touch Technology.
'POWER GP' targets riders who use their sportsbike
on public roads, but who occasionally take it to
circuits for track days or tuition, offering high
performance levels in these situations.
Features include a compound that
incorporates silica and carbon black, 2CT
technology (front tyre) and 2CT+
technology (rear tyre) conceived to deliver
superior performance on public roads and
racetracks alike, ‘Slick zones’ on the
sidewalls for track use, a sea-to-land ratio
of 6.5 percent and sidewalls that feature
Premium Touch Technology.
'Power Slick 2' is designed for track use
and track day fans and is not type-
approved for road use. It has 2CT (front
tyre) and 2CT+ (rear tyre) technology
with a dedicated compound,
developed uncompromisingly for on-
track performance and sidewalls that
feature Premium Touch Technology.
'City Grip 2'
'City Grip 2' range, for "everyday scooter users who seek maximum safety in all
conditions".
The 'City Grip 2' range is designed to address the demands of modern scooter owners,
including high grip performance on all the types of road in and around towns and cities.
The tyre includes an innovative compound which includes silica, and a new 'Shark's tooth'
tread pattern design, and a variety of sizes will be available from January 2020.
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INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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