The Michelin Energy MXT summer tire is a further development of the famous line of energy-efficient tires. In this model, French tire manufacturers have tried to eliminate the drawbacks of its predecessors, which were distinguished by not too good traction, especially in rainy conditions.
High performance on wet roads
Aiming to increase the tire's resistance to aquaplaning, the specialists of the French tire giant revised the structure of the drainage system, which is why they had to create a tread pattern almost from scratch. The result of this painstaking work was an S-shaped symmetrical non-directional tread pattern, filled to the limit with drainage channels. Thanks to their large size, the drainage system was able to remove significantly larger amounts of water from the contact patch than previous models. At the same time, the already high performance was further improved due to the placement of wave-like lamellas on the surface of the tread blocks, which, when in contact with the road, like car windshield wipers, literally "sweep away" excess moisture.
Excellent handling
As you know, the first representatives of the energy-efficient Energy line were not too good at handling. In this model, this drawback has been completely eliminated. The novelty inherited from its predecessors only the S-shaped tread pattern, which has undergone very serious changes. Immediately noticeable is the presence of a double longitudinal rib in the central part of the tread. This solution was borrowed from the sports tires of this manufacturer and was dictated by the desire to provide high directional stability when moving at any speed. At the same time, the double rib, having a rigid structure, made it possible to significantly reduce the response time to steering wheel turns, making handling more understandable and predictable.
Another characteristic feature of the tread pattern of the Michelin Energy MXT tire was the reinforced shoulder zones, which are represented by two rows of massive rectangular blocks. Thanks to this solution, the tire became more stable when cornering. In addition, the braking distance was significantly reduced, since the long edges of the tread blocks in this part of the tread are located at a right angle to the direction of movement.
Low rolling resistance
Since the tire belongs to the energy-efficient Energy family, it would be surprising if its developers had not paid much attention to such an important operational parameter as rolling resistance. It was possible to keep it at a record low level, compared to competitors, thanks to a number of technological solutions. First of all, some changes were made to the design of the carcass, which made it possible to ensure a more even distribution of external pressure over the contact patch, making it also more lightweight.
In addition, during the manufacture of the tread, several rubber compound compositions were used. The lower layer has increased stiffness, which made it possible to increase the stability of the profile shape due to increased resistance to dynamic deformation.
Main features of the Michelin Energy MXT tire
- Excellent fuel economy was achieved due to weight reduction and reduced rolling resistance;
- Optimized S-shaped tread pattern design significantly improved handling characteristics on all types of surfaces;
- Double central rib improved directional stability and handling responsiveness;
- Shortened braking distance thanks to massive rectangular blocks located in the shoulder zones of the tread;
- Excellent resistance to aquaplaning due to an increased number of drainage system elements.
Enlarge 
РОССИЯ