Like a Fine Wine This Tire Ages Well

By Bill McLauchlan

As drivers, what if we improved with age? Well, in a way we do as we build up experience on the road. At least that’s the case until the years sneak up on us and our mental and physical abilities start their gradual downhill slide.

That’s why news of a new tire from Michelin made me sit up and take notice. It actually gets better as it ages.

That’s not how it’s supposed to happen. Conventional wisdom says as mileage increases and tread depth decreases, a tire loses its ability to provide adequate grip, particularly where wet weather traction is called for. Wet surface grip is vital for your safety because drivers are more than twice as likely to be in an accident on wet roads compared to dry conditions.

But, amid the glitz and glitter at last week’s auto show in Detroit, Michelin quietly introduced its Premier A/S tire with what it calls revolutionary new EverGrip technology. Even when worn, Michelin claims it can stop shorter on wet roads than the leading competitors’ brand new tires.

Three things help this revolutionary rubber prolong its wet traction even as it becomes worn.

First is a proprietary compound with extreme amounts of silica and sunflower oil – the former for bonding strength and adherence to keep tread on the road for high traction in the wet and the latter for better grip at lower temperatures.

Second are expanding rain grooves. In most tires, as the rain grooves lose depth, the amount of water they can funnel away from the tire is diminished. But Michelin has positioned rain grooves around the circumference of this new tire with a special geometric shape that gets wider as the tread wears. This helps maintain the amount of water the tire can channel away even as these rain grooves lose depth.

Third, are more than 150 hidden grooves, along the tire’s shoulder, that emerge as the tire becomes worn, providing additional help in clearing water away and maintaining wet traction as miles accumulate.

These elements work together to give the Premier A/S exceptional traction in a range of conditions year round with shorter stopping, hydroplaning resistance and increased grip when new and worn.

Michelin says the tire will be available in the Spring, initially in 32 sizes ranging from 185/65/R15 to 245/45R18 to cover a wide range of passenger cars.