Michelin is launching a new tyre which it says is more ecologically friendly. Nothing new in that, you may think. After all, fuel-saving 'low rolling resistance' tyres have been around for decades.
Carbon neutral at time of purchase
Well, the new Michelin e-Primacy tyre is a little different to that. Michelin has changed the way that the tyre is made, and is claiming that it's 'carbon-neutral at the time of purchase.'
According to Michelin's Scott Clark, the company's Executive Vice President, Automotive, Motorsport, Experiences, and Americas Region, the new tyre "has been engineered to be CO2 neutral at the time of purchase, from the extraction of raw materials to transport to the customer. This is a world's first that will open the way to a new generation of products. As you can see, environmental issues are central to our strategic priorities.
Reduce its environmental footprint
"To reduce its environmental footprint more quickly, Michelin has pledged to lower CO2 emissions from all its production facilities by 50 per cent by 2030 compared with 2010, with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Michelin is also developing solutions to use renewable or recycled materials to manufacture its tyres, while enhancing their performance even more. By 2030, Michelin tires will be 20 per cent more energy efficient than they were in 2010."
The tyre itself is more energy-efficient, too. Michelin's claim for the e-Primacy is that it has a 27 per cent reduction in rolling resistance, which equates to (depending on the vehicle) a 0.21-litre per 100km average saving in fuel. Over 35,000km, that adds up to a fuel-saving of €80, according to the tyre maker's calculation.
CO2 savings in use
The CO2 savings in use also sounds good - over the lifetime of the tyre, Michelin estimates that it will help and average car save some 174kg of CO2 emissions, a figure that's better again if you fit the tyres to an electric car. The company hasn't yet offered any independent verification of those claims.
When the e-Primacy goes on sale next year, Michelin has confirmed that it will be available in some 56 tyre sizes in the 15-inch to 20-inch range.