Michelin Revamps Cold Weather Tyre Line-Up
Audi TT Coupe on Bridgestone

Michelin Revamps Cold Weather Tyre Line-Up

Winter driving conditions vary greatly, from snowy, icy and wet roads to dry but very cold roads. That's why Michelin offers an extensive line-up of cold weather tyres, allowing motorists to choose the model that best suits their climate and driving conditions for maximum safety. As soon as the temperature drops below 7°C, cold weather tyres should be mounted on all four wheels, because they are the only tyres that can improve road handling on wet, snow-covered or icy roads.

With this in mind Michelin is enhancing its cold weather tyre line-up by introducing two new models. The new Michelin Alpin is designed for city cars, small and medium sized family cars and compact MPVs, while the new Michelin Latitude Alpin is tailor-made for multi-purpose and compact 4x4 vehicles. These new models are claimed to deliver unequalled performance in braking and traction. They also offer superior wear performance, ensuring that the tyre keeps delivering optimum results winter after winter.

All of Michelin's cold weather tyres benefit from Bi-Active Sipe design technology, featuring Bi-Directional Sipes (BDS). The new Michelin Alpin is designed to deliver improved safety on wet roads, mobility on snow and superior tyre mileage as well as extremely short braking distances. Michelin has developed customized technologies to meet each of these objectives.

Firstly, effective braking and traction on wet roads are assured thanks to the tyre's new rubber compound containing sunflower oil. This major innovation means better energy dissipation in the tread, which greatly improves braking and cornering on wet surfaces, while also enhancing performance on snow and ice.

Meanwhile, to ensure excellent mobility on snow, the tread pattern of the new Michelin Alpin has a 47% higher sipe density than the average of competitor tyres.(4) Bi-Directional Sipes provide superior traction thanks to their wavy edges on the tyre's surface as well as improved stability due a profile which undulates with depth. Sipes that have a wavy surface and rigid base offer increased stability at motorway speeds and better resistance in demanding conditions such as high-speed driving on motorways.

Michelin Latitude Alpin is the successor to the Michelin 4x4 Alpin, which led the way in cold weather tyres for four-wheel drive vehicles. The new Latitude Alpin delivers greater safety on wet winter roads and when braking on snow, as well as superior snow traction, thereby meeting the most important requirements of the European 4x4 market. The model's superior mileage is also a major plus for customers, as it means lower total cost of ownership and a smaller environmental footprint.

Audi TT Coupe on Bridgestone

The all-new Audi TT Coupé continues the evolution of an iconic modern classic, harnessing Formula One-derived tyre technology from Bridgestone to deliver a truly exceptional ride experience. The stunning second generation Coupé offers the same high standard of performance as its acclaimed 1999 predecessor, enhanced by a hybrid steel-aluminium 'Audi Space Frame' shell that reduces weight and improves dynamics, and an electronically retractable rear spoiler that maximises downforce at higher speeds.

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres perfectly complement the power and pace of the car, which is initially available with two engine sizes, a front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre Turbo FSI delivering 197BHP and a quattro four-wheel-drive 3.2-litre V6 delivering 247BHP. The outer tread pattern of the RE050A tyre features large stiff blocks for superior dry handling and road holding, while the large contact area dramatically improves cornering performance. The asymmetric tread design also features wide channels on the inside for rapid water evacuation. Even at high speeds the contact patch remains clear, meaning there is less chance of hydroplaning and more grip on the road.

The Potenza REO50A is available in two sizes as original equipment on the Coupé, a 245/45 R17 and a 245/40 R18. Further Bridgestone fitments for the car include a run-flat version of the RE050A, and a run-flat RE050, which has a non-asymmetric tread design. Both tyres have reinforced side walls that enable the car to be driven safely after suffering a loss of pressure, meaning drivers can maintain control in a potentially fatal blow-out situation.

Run-flat tyres are one of one of several safety-orientated features on the TT, which include a sophisticated new version of the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) that improves braking performance in wet weather. The RE050A RFT is available in a size 245/45 and the RE050 RFT in a size 245/45, both for 17-inch rims.