In Thailand, Michelin presented Michelin Energy XM2+, a new «green» tire line for summer weather conditions. Notably, the new development was engineered for small to middle class vehicles, the main accent being laid on eco-cars.
This tire, with a «plus» in its name is essentially a modified version of the eight-year-old Michelin Energy XM2, the direct reference to it showing through in the exact same tread pattern that resurfaced in Energy XM2+. Otherwise, however, the tire has been optimized, which improved its traction on wet pavement, increased its resistance to wear, and significantly reduced its rolling resistance, leading to higher fuel efficiency.
Some experts believe that this effect was achieved by means of using a new generation rubber compound with a higher content of silicon dioxide, which improved the performance of Michelin Energy XM2+ on wet pavement. For example, the presales tests, conducted by this manufacturer, showed that in comparison to the braking performance by similar models from the world-class brands, the average braking distance ensured by this new tire on wet pavement at a speed of 80 km/h is 1.5 meters shorter. For the used tires, this difference is even greater — 2.6 m.
The average running life of Energy XM2+ will be 25% longer.
This «plus» fuel-efficient model was designed by Michelin for the markets of the Asia-Pacific region. It is available in 36 sizes for fitting diameters from 14 to 16 inches.
