Michelin tyres

Michelin tyre history

The story ofMichelin tyres began before the automotive industry boomed in 1889. A cyclist approached the rubber factory of two brothers, Édouard Michelin and André Michelin, with a tube. After a time-consuming and unsuccessful repair, the brothers came up with the first removable pneumatic tyre, which made tyre repairs much easier and started a cycle of innovation that has spanned more than a century of the brand’s history.

Michelin tyres for a better future

When you choose Michelin tyres, you are not only choosing a top quality product with huge added value, but also investing in the future. From compact cars to space rocket tyres, the brand’s range has it all. Michelin has always been committed to innovation, coming up with some of the most important inventions in the automotive industry and in the development of human mobility in general. Let’s take a look at just some of the highlights:

1. The first replaceable pneumatic tyre. Before this invention, tyres were glued to the wheels and changing them, together with drying the glue, took up to a day.
2. The world’s first widespread road map. Although the oldest road maps found date back to 260 BC, Michelin launched the first tourist guide containing a road map in 1900. This was part of Michelin’s strategy to promote tyres and motoring, because before the rise of the auto industry, people were very sceptical about cars. So to show people where they could go by car, the brand sent free road maps to many people, without which the modern world is unthinkable. Michelin also came up with the first road signs in France, which are still there today.
3. The first radial tyre. It is widely acknowledged that radial tyre technology is universally the best. Before 1949, tyres were much heavier, less durable and had much higher rolling resistance. Radial tyres allowed faster and more economical travel, and are much more durable. Michelin quickly succeeded in promoting this invention, as Citroën, one of the world’s leading car manufacturers, owned the brand at the time.
4. The first run-flat tyre. Michelin launched the first run-flat tyre in 1934, allowing cars to drive safely to the nearest tyre service without tyre pressure.

And these are just some of the major technological innovations Michelin has come up with. Without them, it is not unreasonable to say that the automotive industry and humanity as a whole would probably not be where it is today.

Michelin tyres in motorsport

Michelin tyres have been around in motorsport since the brand’s inception. They have historically been fitted to Moto GP top performance bikes, WRC rally cars, Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is thanks to this technological innovation that Michelin has managed to outperform its competitors countless times, winning four Formula 1 championships, 20 Le Mans titles and countless others.