CST Launches Three New Revolutionary Tires: the All-Terrain Sahara AT318, the SALEKS E.X1 for EV’s and CST Ride Scoop Scooter Tires

CST Tires, a global leader in tire manufacturing, known for offering good value as it provides a good balance of performance and price for various vehicle types, launched three new tires this July.

Unveiled at product launches for dealers and mobility media were CST’s new Sahara AT318 tire, an intermediate all-terrain tire (rugged terrain) designed for both on and off-road use; the CST SALEKS E.X1, a revolutionary tire engineered specifically for electric vehicles (EVs) and the CST Ride Scoop, Sport Touring scooter tires designed for performance and control. 

"We are excited to introduce these three tires to the market," said Mr. Ronald L. Ang, Chief Operations Officer of AP Blue Whale Corporation, exclusive distributor of Maxxis and CST tires. “All three are high-performing, innovative and durable tires. All are engineered to provide exceptional performance in diverse terrains, meet specific needs on the road and satisfy drivers’ demands in specific conditions. Both their design and construction deliver the confidence and capability that drivers looks for.”

The Sahara AT318 features wide zigzag grooves for efficient water, mud and stone dispersal while its “tiger-tooth” shoulder delivers extra traction during air-downs and provides great cuts resistance. Its construction and tread design are meant to resist punctures and tears under hazardous conditions and contribute to its longevity. The shoulder area of the tire is reinforced with a special rubber compound that makes it suitable for professional competition in some markets.

With the continuous expansion of the electric vehicle market, CST recognized the need for tires that are tailored to the unique demands of EVs. The SALEKS E·X1 is the answer because of its breakthrough technology that addresses the challenges posed by the heavier weight of electric vehicles (primarily due to their battery packs).

The SALEKS E.X1 is designed to elevate the driving experience of EVs because it provides superior handling and stability and ensures a smooth and controlled driving experience even under challenging conditions. SALEKS stands for Silica compound technology, All-around driving performance, Low rolling resistance for prolongiong EV range, Engineered for electric mobility, Kinder to the environment and Souindless driving experience with low noise.

“We are thrilled to introduce the SALEKS E.X1 because it will set a new standard for electric vehicle performance,” said Mr. Jaybee Atanci.o, Director of Prooduct Management of AP Blue Whale Corporation. 

 “Its advanced features and cutting-edge design make this tire provide exceptional performance, efficiency and comfort. It meets the evolving needs of electric vehicle drivers worldwide.” 

Also unveiled at the launch was the CST Ride Scoop, a V-shaped tread pattern tire that provides better road grip and maintains excellent and quick water drainage capability. Using a semi hot melt compound similar to that of track tires, the feature maximizes dry driving performance. A special 4-layer composite material structure allows the tire to dissipate heat well and makes it lighter than normal tires. It saves fuel while maintaining strength and offers a balance of performance and durability.

“We are proud of these new scooter tires that offer excellent stability even at high speeds. It will give riders confidence and control. It’s an easy to handle, very responsive tire that riders who love to push their bikes in corners will surely enjoy,” said Atanacio. 

The tires are available at CST Authorized Dealers nationwide.

CST Tires, a brand of Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co. Ltd., has a wide range of products for various applications, including bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, and automobiles. CST is committed to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, with a focus on providing safe and reliable tires for drivers worldwide. For more information, visit www.csttires.com.ph

Maxxis Launches 4 New Tires: the Maxxis RAZR HT780, the Maxxis RAZR AT781 the Maxxis Victra Sport EV and the Maxxis Victra S98 CT Scooter Tire

Maxxis International, a brand known for offering a good balance of performance and value across its tire line, proudly announced the release of four new revolutionary tires at dealer and media launches held recently.

We are thrilled to introduce the RAZR HT 780, the RAZR AT781, the Victra Sport EV and the Victra S98 CT to the market,” said Mr. Ronald L. Ang, Chief Operations Officer of AP Blue Whale Corporation, exclusive distributor of Maxxis and CST Tires. “These tires represent a significant advancement in our tire technology and our response to the continuously expanding electric vehicle market, and we are happy to offer drivers an unparalleled experience on both dry and wet roads, whether for conventional or electric vehicles.”

“We are confident that these tires will live up to, if not exceed, the expectations of drivers seeking the ultimate tire performance. These new tires are a testament to Maxxis’ commitment to innovation and delivering top-tier products to the market,” Mr. Ang said.

The global manufacturer of tires for a wide range of vehicles, including bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, ATVs, trucks and buses raised the curtain on the Maxxis HT780, a premium quality highway terrain tire designed for SUV and utility drivers looking for optimal comfort, a quiet ride and prolonged tire life.

Also unveiled was the Maxxis RAZR AT781, a refined All-Terrain tire for crossovers, pick-ups and SUVs that provides excellent off-road traction, improved tread life, dry/wet performance, silence and riding comfort.

Jaybee Atanacio, Director of Product Management of AP Blue Whale Corporation, exclusive distributor of Maxxis and CST tires, introduced the Maxxis RAR HT780 as the Rebel of the Road”. “Part of the Razr family of tires, it is known for its toughness and unrelenting grip that laughs in the face of rain and potholes because of its extraordinary traction. It also delivers an uncommon level of quietness and comfort to 4X4 vehicles and SUVs because of Maxxis Optim-Tech, the brands most advanced pitch arrangement optimization technology ever,” Atanacio said.

The tire’s carcass’ architecture and profile are designed to absorb road vibrations and the sidewall plies ensure improved steering precision. High-reinforced silica nanoparticles guarantee its long life. Keywords for this tire are traction, drainage and comfort. It also provides better mileage and better ROI, he added.

The Maxxis RAZR AT781 meanwhile is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, but adapts well to both on-road and off-road conditions. Designed for light duty vehicles, it combines all-weather traction, hardiness and a peaceful ride for both challenging or leisurely camping activities. A key feature is Maxxis’ latest tread optimization and compound technology that delivers a high level of on and off-road performance.

New chemical fillers in the compound provide maximum tear and chip resistance plus longer tread life. The new pattern features 3D tread blocks and bridge reinforcements for minimized pattern noise and irregular wear. A new armor sidewall design provides extra peace of mind, especially off-road, by maximizing sidewall traction and puncture resistance.

The Maxxis VICTRA SPORT EV was the third product using cutting-edge technology introduced at the launch. It is an ultra-high performance all-season tire for electric vehicles designed to maximize efficiency and grip, lower rolling resistance and noise, enhance durability and improve traction. 

Specifically developed for electric vehicles, it is notable for its high-dispersion nanotechnology and a special tread design that increase range and improve energy efficiency. 

An optimized surface structure and Maxxis Silent Technology uses sound-absorbing foams that reduce rolling noise and enhance comfort inside the vehicle. Its innovative tread makes the Victra Sport EV more resistant to the additional strains placed on electric car tires. Next-generation energy-saving EV compound helps to improve rolling resistance, increases range and mileage and improves tread wear. 

“Maxxis’ new tire for electric vehicles, the VICTRA SPORT EV, has won a SEMA Best New Product Award in the Tire and Related Product category. This ultra-high-performance tire improves upon the OEM fitment, and the Maxxis engineering team focused on improving fuel economy and a longer tread life through a new-generation low rolling resistance EV compound. The VICTRA SPORT EV also offers a quieter, more comfortable ride with help from our new Maxxis Silent technology,” said Jaybee Atanacio, . 

The fourth Maxxis tire to be unveiled was the Maxxis Victra S98 CT – an urban-ready scooter tire, Built specifically for city riding, it offers smooth and stable performance ideal for daily scooter commutes. Its high-grip compound and optimized tread pattern ensure excellent handling and control on both wet and dry urban roads. The tread pattern’s deco groove is optimized to ensure confidence during wet weather. A reinforced casing and long-lasting construction guarantee consistency and extended tire life.

The Maxxis RAZR HT780, the RAZR AT781, the Victra Sport EV and the Victra S98 CT will be available in a range of sizes to fit a wide variety of vehicles at authorized MAXXIS Tires dealerships nationwide. 

For more information about the new Maxxis tires and other Maxxis tires, please visit www.maxxis.com.ph.

Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. Gives Back on its Silver Anniversary

In recognizing the value of the company’s success, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) kicks off its 25th anniversary by giving back to the communities within the company’s vicinity.

The tire manufacturing company is set to donate tires for the emergency service vehicles of its neighboring communities to support the quick Covid-19 and emergency response of its local health units. Aside from this, YTPI will also be donating printing materials to nearby public schools that are currently under the modular learning system due to the pandemic.

"YTPI has come so far in the past 25 years. I am humbled and grateful for the support the company and our team have received over the years. Despite the global pandemic, I feel blessed that we have grown YTPI into a business that can give back,” said YTPI President and CEO Tetsuya Nagao.

Moreover, several events are also lined up to commemorate the plant’s 25th anniversary, including a social media project that will feature some of the people behind the success of the company, and a photo exhibit about the company’s milestones through the years.

To build camaraderie in the workplace, several in-house activities will also be held, including a board design contest, an online gaming contest, and the launching of an informative video series. In addition, custom-made insulated bags and free food will be distributed to employees on the anniversary launch and culmination day.

From producing 5,000 tires per day to manufacturing 27,000 tires everyday

25 years had passed since the Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. (YRC) established YTPI in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. Two years after the company’s inception, the first S-760 passenger tire model was manufactured at the first Yokohama tire manufacturing facility in Asia outside Japan.

Since then, YTPI has become a strategic and vital subsidiary of YRC that is essential to the local and global distribution of high-performance passenger car radial and recreational vehicle tires.

Over the years, tire demand and industry growth have resulted in YTPI’s several business expansions marking the company’s focus to proceed in several phases. On June 9, 2003, Phase II expansion started to ramp up production to 10,000 tires per day. Two years after, the company started the construction of its Phase III expansion, increasing production by 70 percent. 2008 was a banner year as YTPI set a record by producing 22,000 tires in a day. In 2011, YTPI officially started building the West Plant. The expansion move increased the company’s total land area from 16.5 hectares to 44.7 hectares. It also ramped up production resulting in a huge increase of the company’s manpower. By 2014, the second and last phase of YTPI’s West Plant Expansion was finally completed. To date, YTPI manufactures 27,000 tires per day and employs over 3,000 staff.

In less than a decade, amazing strides were made exponentially increasing production by fastidious and daring shifts. As manufacturing continues to achieve gain after gain, its workforce has grown as well, providing even more opportunities to the community.

Triumphed over challenges

Things did not go easily for the company as misfortune struck on May 14, 2017, when the YTPI East Plant – Phase 3 was razed with fire. As an agile and resilient company, YTPI began rebuilding and reconstruction the same year. And by June of the following year, partial production has already commenced.

In the constantly changing business environment, the company was able to recover and quickly stay the course. YTPI’s dauntless leadership and ability to adapt with complex shifts was crucial not only to maintain its momentum but also to move beyond. Nowhere is this more pronounced than the symbolic year of 2018, a year after the unfortunate event, when YTPI manufactured its 100,000,000th tire.

“Credit goes to every diligent employee who gave their all day in and day out. Their commitment and dedication to build quality tires that people can trust can only be matched with an unquenchable thirst for success,” said Nagao

As a testament to quality and excellence, the tire manufacturer has obtained ISO 9001 in 1998 for the Quality Management System and ISO 14001 certification in 2000 for the Environmental Management System. Moreover, in 2010, the Occupation Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) certification was given to the company. A tire produced from YTPI guarantees that it has been manufactured abiding by the international standards of quality, and safety.

For YTPI, it has never been easy to create a good enterprise. As the company strives to attain its business goals, the management ensures that its business processes are founded on fair practices and compliance to all regulatory agencies. YTPI’s accomplishments are the employees’ achievements as well. It is a shared purpose, where the company’s leadership invests in its workforce and both have worked together towards the company’s mission and vision. YTPI’s singularity of providing safe work spaces whilst yielding quality that meets international standards has been a yardstick that defines it, all while committing to an environment where employees thrive, are valued and heard.

Giving back to the community

As a keen adopter of sustainability and eco-friendly business, it was all too clear that corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship has been part of the company’s mission. As an industry leader in reducing its carbon footprint, YTPI undertook the expansion of the Forever Forest, a global initiative of its parent company. Several generations ago, it all seemed that the world’s resources were infinite, but in the intervening years, wisdom and experience has shown otherwise, and in the time that YTPI has been involved with Forever Forest, over 44,000 trees have been planted within the facility and nearby areas.

The company has admirably committed and invested in sustainability and in 2019, YTPI has installed its own 4MW solar power rooftop. It is the second largest rooftop solar plant in the country and the largest in Central Luzon. It is considered as one of the company’s biggest environmental milestones to date as it greatly reduced Freeport’s annual CO2 emissions. In addition, a 1,020m3 rainwater recovery tank to harvest rain water for industrial purposes was constructed.

YTPI also devoted equal importance to strengthening partnerships with the local communities. Some of its notable projects include scholarship grants to nearly a hundred college students. The company has also donated health and sanitation facilities to public schools and has provided extensive and active support to Brigada Eskwela. In 2006, YTPI donated Php 1,000,000 worth of materials and supplies for the rehabilitation of the water system providing potable water to Indigenous Peoples (Aeta) families in San Vicente in Tarlac province. Socially responsible to itself, its stakeholders, and the public, YTPI is conscious of the kind of impact the company has on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental facets.

Braving through the new normal

As the whole world faces the challenges brought by the pandemic, the tire manufacturer officially launched The New Normal: Together We Can Beat This Better protocols and programs to ensure the safety of its people. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the company continued to contribute to the economic development of the country by generating employment opportunities, paying its taxes dutifully, and creating profit through fair and honest business activities.

In the face of both adversity and privilege, within a score and five years, what makes the YTPI’s silver anniversary worth celebrating is that despite the recent challenges of being in the midst of a global pandemic – the company continues to produce and deliver millions of tires that people can trust. All of this, operating within complexities big and small. This kind of success does not come without difficulties. It is through hard work, meticulous planning, cooperation and a great degree of foresight that this degree of accomplishment is envisioned, let alone, achieved.

“I want to congratulate all our former and current employees on this special milestone. It has been a wonderful journey altogether. Let’s continue to defy the odds and hope for the best in the coming years,” Nagao ended.

Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual: A Compelling Esport Experience for Michelin

The first-ever Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual saw Rebellion Williams [sport claim first place with its N°1 car shared by Deletraz / Marciello / Wisniewski / Brzezinski. Pole-sitters Dillmann / Guerrieri / Simoncic / Pedersen (N°4 ByKolles Burst Esport) were second past the chequered flag, ahead of the N°13 Rebellion Williams Esport foursome (Canapino / Aitken / Arana / Romanidis). The GTE class was won by Porsche Esports Team which emerged as the category's dominant squad in qualifying. The top prize was secured by the W93 Porsche 911 RSR of Tandy / GOven / Rogers / Ostgaard thanks to a surefooted performance. Interestingly, British driver Nick Tandy can now claim to have won Le Mans' GTE class with Porsche and Michelin in both the real world and 'virtually'. Second in class went to the N°95 Aston Martin (Thiim / Westbrook / Sorensen / Biancolilla), while R8G Esports Team's N°80 Corvette (Juncadella /Beche / Jayovski / Kappet) took third. All these cars contested the race on 'virtual' Michelin tyres.

Not only did the realism of the rFactor2 software employed for the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual provide endurance racing fans with a welcome chance to enjoy their favourite discipline once more after the recent halt to real-world motorsport, but it also gave video game fans an opportunity to discover motor racing from a fresh perspective that introduced them to the important role that tyres play in motorsport.

Close, spectacular, realistic racing

Buoyed by a field of 50 cars and 200 topflight racing drivers and sim racers, the show provided by the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual lived up every bit to its promise. Drivers from different forms of racing and top names from the world of endurance racing teamed up with a line-up of sim racing stars to showcase their professionalism not only during their respective pre-race preparations but also in the course of the twice-around-the-clock race itself. The result was a gripping fight between the successive leaders who all chose similar race strategies and the gaps at the end were extremely close.

As expected, the teams with the strongest reputations took turns in front and took the two 'virtual' red-flag interruptions that bunched up the field in their stride. Thanks to the quality of the coverage and the work put into the event by its organiser, the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), it was easy to forget at times that this wasn't actually the real thing. "The inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual was a resounding success," says Michelin Motorsport Director Matthieu Bonardel.

There is always room for improvement, but I would like to thank everyone at Michelin Motorsport, as well as all the staff at the ACO and the FIA World Endurance Championship who put so much effort into this project. Michelin's business is advancing continuously on the digital front and we are delighted today to have had this opportunity to reach out to a new audience thanks to the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual."

An even more detailed understanding of our 'virtual' tyres

The drivers were swift to acclaim Michelin's tyres after qualifying and their praise continued during the race as they paid tribute to the realism of the feedback replicated via the steering wheel, and notably the difference between the feeling of the different compound options. As in the real Le Mans 24 Hours, their strategies were based on the use of either hard or medium tyres during the early stages of the race, before switching to the softer option for the cooler hours of darkness. On Sunday morning, as the temperature started to climb to exceed 20°C again, they returned to the medium compound, and then the hard tyre.

In contrast to the real Le Mans 24 Hours, however, where multi-stinting the same set of tyres is commonplace, this tactic wasn't a feature of the virtual race. This was due on the one hand to the fact that the teams didn't have a maximum allocation of tyres for the race, whereas numbers are capped in the real world. On the other, the simulated time allowed for tyre changes was relatively short, so there was little to gain from staying on the same rubber for more than one stint. Meanwhile, the wear-rates factored in by the software were higher than in reality. The game effectively reproduced a cost of two seconds per lap (one stint equivalent to approximately 10 laps) due to wear, whereas — in reality — Michelin's tyres deliver consistent lap times from the start to the end of runs of up to four stints at a time Michelin hopes to be able to work with the rFactor2 platform's designers so that competing teams have a broader spectrum of possible strategies in the future while demonstrating the consistency of its tyres' performance more fully.

A resounding worldwide success and new contacts for Michelin

Given that the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual allowed motor racing enthusiasts to enjoy the action in the virtual company of video game fans who often have little interest in real motorsport, Michelin saw its involvement in the race as a chance to reach out to a wider audience which was able to discover the importance of the role played by tyres not only in real life racing but also, by extrapolation, on their road cars. The quality of the race's video coverage kept millions of fans captivated across the world, with viewing figures boosted by Michelin's own social media teams who provided live streaming of the race on Michelin and Michelin Motorsport's Facebook pages in 30 countries. Meanwhile, the teaser video posted by the French firm ahead of the race attracted by 1.3 million views on Instagram alone, plus another 450,000 on YouTube and 155,000 on Facebook.

Michelin's involvement in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual asserts its commitment to eSports and, in September, it will be looking to follow up by extending its current unbeaten record in the real race to 23 victories in a row since 1998.

Michelin, Youth Bat for Road Safety

Michelin Philippines reiterated its commitment to road safety alongside its counterparts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Stockholm from February 19-20.
The conference was organized by Youths For Road Safety (YOURS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Young delegates shared their successes and lessons learned from actions undertaken in the framework of the 2011-2020 Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety. It was an opportunity to link safe mobility with other sustainably-related challenges.

In Stockholm, Michelin invited three young employees from India, Thailand and Brazil to attend the Second World Youth Assembly as representatives of the private sector and participate in road safety-related decision-making. Their role was to share their experiences and raise awareness among Michelin teams in their respective regions about the best safer mobility solutions.

Findings showed that the 15-29 age group is the demographic most impacted by road accidents. Thus in 2010, Michelin collaborated with WHO to create YOURS, an NGO focusing on young people that encourages them to address road safety issues in both developed and developing countries. YOURS has set an ambitious road safety target to halve road deaths and injuries globally in five years, with young people leading the charge and providing energy to the revolution. As Founding Member of YOURS, Michelin and YOURS have a long-term partnership and are working together to improve road safety for young people worldwide.

Florent Menegaux, Michelin CEO, said safety is at the heart of “everything we do”. “It is a top priority every day across all our sites. For our customers, Michelin is synonymous with safety, reliability, performance and durability. And for 130 years, we have worked tirelessly to uphold this reputation. We believe it is our responsibility to make mobility safer across the world.”

In the Philippines, Michelin does its part for road safety by raising awareness on the importance of correct tire pressure, proper maintenance and fuel efficiency through its “Michelin Safe On The Road (MSOR) campaign. Michelin Philippines has partnered with S&R membership shopping club to render service to motorists by giving them free tire check-ups and information on how to maximize tire usage. The importance of awareness in reducing the risk of road accidents to ensure a safer and more liveable community for all is emphasized to motorists in MSOR.

About the Michelin Group:

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 127,000 employees and operates 69 tire production facilities which together produced around 200 million tires in 2019. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN TO MAKE PLAYSTATION’S GRAN TURISMO SPORT EVEN MORE GRIPPING FOR GAMERS

Michelin Chief Representative to the Philippines Michael Nunag announced today that PlayStation has selected Michelin as “official tire technology partner” for its Gran Turismo franchise, the best and most authentic driving game.

Under the multi-year agreement, Michelin becomes “official tire supplier” of FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships, with Michelin-branded tires featured in the game during its third World Tour live event also in progress at PlayStation Theater throughout the weekend.

The relationship begins by increasing Michelin’s visibility through free downloadable content on Gran Turismo Sport available to users by October 2019. The Michelin-themed download will feature for the first time:
A new Michelin section on the Gran Turismo Sport “Brand Central” virtual museum, which introduces players to Michelin’s deep history in global motorsports, performance and innovation.

Tire technology by Michelin available in the “Tuning” section of Gran Turismo Sport, applicable to the game’s established hard, medium and soft formats.
On-track branding elements and scenography from many of the world’s most celebrated motorsports competitions and venues.

In 1895, the Michelin brothers entered a purpose-built car in the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris motor race to prove the performance of air-filled tires. Since that storied race, Michelin has achieved a record of innovation and ultra-high performance in the most demanding and celebrated racing competitions around the world, including 22 consecutive overall wins at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans and more than 330 FIA World Rally Championship victories.

Through racing series such as FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIA Formula E and International Motor Sports Association series in the U.S., Michelin uses motorsports as a laboratory to collect vast amounts of real-world data that power its industry-leading models and simulators for tire development. Tire technologies proven on the track eventually transfer to road-going performance vehicles like many of those on screen in Gran Turismo.
Michelin will share this knowledge openly with Sony in the first co-development exchange of its kind, aiming to provide Gran Turismo players with a new dimension of strategy and competition linked to tire selection and performance, drawing ever closer to the pit-level decisions that race teams evaluate on every track.

“This relationship is a perfect match, connecting the most successful virtual driving experience with the global leader for high-performance tires,” said Scott Clark, executive vice president of the Americas region for Michelin Group, responsible for the Company’s global automotive, motorsports and experiences business segments.

“Michelin leads the industry in tire simulation,” Clark said. “Michelin develops and tunes virtual tires on virtual vehicles before the tires are even produced, with extremely accurate translation to real tires on real vehicles. Combining this technology with real motorsports data will enable Sony to bring more tire strategy into the game, and in the longer term, also helps more people understand the critical role that Michelin tires play in optimizing vehicle performance.”
“The FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships is founded on a technical base established through 25 years of automotive physics simulation within Gran Turismo, and the unique automotive culture it has achieved over the years. With its passion for motorsports and solid engineering knowledge, having Michelin, the world’s leading tire brand, come on board as an official tire supplier of The Championships and technical partner helps us continue our vision of bridging the gap between virtual and real racing. The partnership also further highlights these events as the future of motorsports,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, series Producer and President of Polyphony Digital Inc.

Further information and images can be found at: https://michelinmedia.com/gran-turismo/

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 125,000 employees and operates 67 tire production facilities, which together produced around 190 million tires in 2018. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN INTRODUCES ‘MICHELIN ENERGY XM2+’, THE STOPPING SUPERPOWER FOR SMALL- AND MID-SIZE PASSENGER CARS

Michelin, the world’s leading tire company, unveiled the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ with the tagline: “Your Stopping Superpower” at the Manila Polo Club September 11. Targeting young and budget-conscious consumers looking for tires with safety and performance that last, the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is the ideal fitment for small- and mid-size passenger cars. Developed to outperform its previous generation in wet braking, the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ offers ultimate safety – both when new, and throughout its useful life.

Michael Nunag, Michelin Chief Representative to the Philippines revealed that: “The MICHELIN Energy XM2+ improves, in various aspects, on its predecessor – the MICHELIN Energy XM2, which has been a leading mass-market tire for 8 consecutive years. Its performance is made to last. Also, the tire’s “Stopping Superpower” is preserved at a high level, even when the tire has been used for a long time. As its advertising campaign goes, MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is a “Stopping Superpower”, keeping consumers safe and confident on the road, time after time.”

Nunag explained that the MICHELIN Energy XM2+, with a new full-silica rubber compound, provides shorter wet braking distances by 1.5 meters when new, and by 2.6 meters when worn, compared to the average of other premium tire manufacturers*. The tire also offers longer mileage that outlasts other premium tire manufacturers** by 25%.

“The ‘+’ sign on the sidewall denotes the rubber compound upgrade that is behind the braking superiority of the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus its predecessor. The tire also maintains the Green ‘X’ marking of its predecessor, indicating optimized fuel savings. We hope the combination of enhanced safety and superior value-for-money will particularly appeal to the younger consumers,” Nunag added.

The new MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is now available at Michelin’s authorized dealers across the nation in 36 sizes, from 14- to 16-inch diameter. For more information, please visit www.michelin.com.ph

*Wet braking test 80 to 0 kph, conducted by TUV Rheinland Thailand Ltd (an independent 3rd party), on Michelin’s request, in Nov 2018 at Nongnooch Garden Chonburi, Thailand, on dimension 205/55R16 on Toyota Altis. Comparing NEW and WORN MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus four other brands of tires (figures represent the average of 4 other premium brands). Reference: TUV Rheinland Thailand Ltd, Technical Report No. 1203058671 001 and 002. WORN condition: tires tested at 2mm remaining tread depth.

** Longevity test conducted by China Automotive Technology and Reseach Center Co.,Ltd (CATARC) (an independent 3rd party), on Michelin's request, in September 2018 in TianJin, China, on dimension 205/55 R16 91V on VolksWagen GOLF7 comparing MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus Premium Competitors (figures represent the average of 5 other premium brands). Longevity test run in average real usage with 20,000 km run and estimated longevity at the depth of Tread Wear Indicator.

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About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 117,400 employees and operates 121 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. The Group has a Research and Development Center located in Europe, North America and Asia. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN TIRES NOW AVAILABLE AT MITSUBISHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES’ AFTER SALES SERVICES

Michelin tires and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines have joined hands to make after sales service at Mitsubishi service centers much more convenient for customers. 

Mitsubishi has begun to offer a range of Michelin tires at Alpine Motors, its Carmona Mitsubishi dealership and service center in Cavite. The offering seeks to provide car owners the convenience of finding major car products like tires at the dealership, apart from car accessories and after sales services, both major and minor. Other Mitsubishi dealers are expected to follow suit.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) in a statement said it is continuously looking for ways to innovate the products and services that it offers its customers.

“We want to be a one-stop-shop for all our customers’ vehicle requirements so we decided to open our doors to partnering with only the best brands in the tire industry to supply our after market requirements since cars and tires go hand in hand,” the MMPC said.

Martin D. Gonzales, President and General Manager of Alpine Motors says his Mitsubishi dealership “wants to answer all their customers’ vehicle needs as much as possible. During after sales service, some customers want to change their tires. We don’t want them to go elsewhere just to find them. We want them to know they can find whatever they need right here because we’re looking after their needs. We want to make life easier for them by making sure they have everything they need for their vehicles in one place – from aircon cleaning to wheel alignment and balancing to change oil to repair to a paint job, and now tires.”

Michael Nunag, Michelin Chief Representative in the Philippines says that the partnership can only benefit both parties. “We at Michelin always look after the safety of the motorists which is also the MMPC’s priority. We are very pleased to be partnering with a company that shares our values and we look forward to having a long partnership with them.”

For now Michelin Primacy SUV 265/65R17 and 265/60R18; Michelin Energy XM2 175/65R14 and 185/55R15 and BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Drive 165/65R14 are now available at the Alpine Motors dealership in Carmona. More tire sizes will be added to the lineup soon.

SIZES:

265/65R17 Michelin Primacy SUV

265/60R18 Michelin Primacy SUV

175/65R14 Michelin Energy XM 2

185/55R15 Michelin Energy XM 2

165/65R14 BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Drive

About Michelin Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN REVEALS THE NEW ‘MICHELIN PRIMACY 4’ UNDER THE BREAKTHROUGH CONCEPT:‘SAFE WHEN NEW, SAFE WHEN WORN’

Michelin, the world’s leading tire company, is revolutionizing the Philippines’ local tire market with the recent launch of its latest generation tire in the Primacy range: MICHELIN Primacy 4. As the concept ‘Safe When New, Safe When Worn’ suggests, the tire provides lasting safety and excellent performance in both new and worn states, throughout its entire life cycle. Moreover, it also serves as a reference of silent tires that provide the ultimate driving comfort and experience.

Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of Michelin Philippines revealed: “A tire’s grip and braking performance – especially on wet roads – is critical to road safety in our country. Filipino consumers today choose their tires based on their characteristics when they are new. But what happens to grip and braking performance after 50,000 kilometers, or after a few years of use? In the tire industry performance tests are typically conducted on new products. Michelin is a step ahead. We want to demonstrate that our performance is maintained with mileage and time”, Nunag added.

Michelin commissioned TÜV Rheinland Thailand Limited to test new and worn MICHELIN Primacy 4 tires on wet roads, as well as new and worn tires of other premium brands. The findings were very impressive: on wet roads, Michelin Primacy 4 tires brake 2.5 meters shorter when new, and 5.1 meters shorter when worn, versus the other premium brands. Even more surprisingly, it was found that worn Primacy 4 tires brake 1.8 meters shorter than brand new tires of some other premium brands.

The new MICHELIN Primacy 4 comes with two innovative technologies that took 3 years to design. Firstly, the EverGrip™ Technology, consisting of two features: A new sculpture that provides increased water evacuation space by 50% for wet grip as the tire wears with usage, which allows the tire to still safely grip wet roads even when worn. A new-generation rubber compound, which – by bonding rubber and silica more strongly and evenly together – provides uniform energy dissipation upon contact with the road, resulting in better grip on wet roads, even when worn.

Secondly, the 2^nd-Generation Silent Rib Technology featuring inter-locking bands to minimize the deformation of tread blocks as the tire is rolling. This reduces air pumping sound effects for a more silent ride, and provides better shock absorption in response to road obstacles for a more comfortable ride.

“The new MICHELIN Primacy 4 addresses two major pain points of consumers in our country: safety journey after journey, due to unfavorable road conditions and rain-related accidents; and on comfort, due to challenging road and traffic conditions,” Nunag said. “Sustainability of our products is Michelin’s key corporate strategy. Instead of producing tires that are easily depleted, we strive to provide tires that provide safety and true value to consumers, while respecting the environment, throughout its full life cycle,”.

In the Philippines, the new MICHELIN Primacy 4 will be marketed from mid-August onwards; and will be available in 64 sizes, from 15- to 18-inch diameter, offering fitments for premium vehicles designed for safety and driving comfort. Michelin Primacy 4 is available at  ‘TYREPLUS’ and Michelin’s authorized dealers across the nation. For more information, please visit www.michelin.com.ph

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About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)