Its emergence, the Michelin Latitude X-Ice North winter studded tire owes, first of all, to the success of another winter model of this French manufacturer, namely X-Ice North. However, unlike it, this tire was specifically designed for vehicles with increased passability - SUVs, pickups and crossovers. This model has a fairly wide range of sizes, starting from 205/70R15 and ending with 255/50R19. At the same time, the tire is released in two versions - with studs and without them. In our country, the studded version of this winter model has received the greatest distribution.
Tread pattern design
Like most winter tires from other manufacturers, this model is equipped with a tread with a symmetrical directional pattern of V-shaped design, which made it possible to provide a number of advantages. First of all, it is worth noting the excellent braking efficiency on snow and ice. In addition, the equipment of the tread with a large number of blocks located in this scheme made it possible to provide excellent traction and coupling characteristics on snowy and icy surfaces due to the numerous sharp edges formed by them.
Another undeniable advantage of the V-shaped tread pattern of the Michelin Latitude X-Ice North is the large contact patch area, as well as the stability of its shape and size, regardless of changes in the characteristics of the road surface. In addition, the profile of the shoulder zones has a small radius, which gave the contact patch a rectangular shape, contributing to a more even distribution of pressure. This feature significantly extended the life of the tread due to the reduction of the risk of uneven wear.
Advanced tread lamination technology
Since the winter climate of Northern European countries and some Russian regions is characterized by frequent thaws, as well as prolonged seasonal changes, the latest lamination technology was used in this model. This made it possible to improve the main operational characteristics, both on slippery surfaces at low temperatures and on dry roads during thaws, as well as in spring and autumn.
To increase traction on snowy and icy roads, the tread is equipped with bidirectional BDS lamellas. These lamellas form an additional large number of sharp edges that effectively grip even the smallest irregularities on the surface of the road. At the same time, the tread blocks remain very rigid due to the special structure of the lamella walls, which provides a more dense connection between them when in contact with the road surface.
To provide higher resistance of the Michelin Latitude X-Ice North tire to increased loads characteristic of high-speed movement, the tread of this model was equipped with lamellas with variable geometry. The VG technology consists in giving the outer edge of the lamella a zigzag shape while maintaining its rigid base. As a result, the lamellas gained the ability to change their size under increased load, which, in turn, made it possible to distribute pressure more evenly over the contact patch.
Durastud studding technology
At present, equipping tread with steel studs is still the most effective way to ensure a high level of safety when driving on icy surfaces. At the same time, the most difficult task is to determine not only the optimal location of the studs but also the height of their protrusion above the tread to ensure an ideal balance between traction and noise level. The Durastud studding technology consists of a number of technical solutions.
The tire tread has a two-layer structure. The lower layer is made of a more dense and hard rubber compound. It is here that the stud seat is located, since the more rigid rubber compound allows for a more reliable connection, as well as provides the possibility of regulating the height of the stud protrusion above the tread surface. On average, this indicator is about 1.2 mm, which is the optimal height to ensure an ideal balance between traction on ice, stud durability, and noise level generated by the studs. In addition, the stud seats are arranged in such a way that after their installation, from 10 to 14 rows of studs are formed, depending on the tire size.
Main features of the French Michelin Latitude X-Ice North
- The V-shaped design of the symmetrical directional tread pattern, optimized for use on SUVs, provides excellent traction on icy and snowy surfaces;
- The advanced lamination technology uses two types of lamellas, which significantly improve traction on snow and ice, as well as contribute to a more even distribution of pressure over the contact patch;
- The Durastud studding technology allows forming from 10 to 14 rows of studs, providing an ideal balance between traction on ice, stud durability, and noise level generated by them due to the two-layer tread and optimal stud protrusion height.
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