The Michelin Primacy 3 summer tire is one of the new products of the domestic market, prepared by the French tire giant for the new summer season in our country. According to the manufacturer's assurances, the new model provides an unprecedented level of safety on the road in any weather. If we compare this model with its predecessor, which, by the way, had excellent operating characteristics, the new product provides significantly better traction, both on dry and wet roads, and when cornering. This superiority in three directions is reflected in the name of the tire - Primacy 3. Also, the traditional indicators for the rest of Michelin's products - wear resistance and fuel efficiency - are at a higher level.
The creation of this model began with a thorough analysis of the most typical road accidents in Europe. It turned out that about 2/3 of all accidents occurred on dry roads. That's why the French tire manufacturers paid special attention to improving traction in such conditions. The result of this painstaking work was a reduction in the braking distance on dry surfaces by 2 meters when driving at a speed of 100 km/h.
During the research, it was also found that almost all accidents on wet roads occurred due to the occurrence of aquaplaning during movement. I.e. the tires, not coping with the removal of excess moisture from the contact patch, simply floated above the road, which ultimately led to dire consequences. In such conditions, the new product demonstrates a braking distance 1.5 meters shorter than its predecessor.
The research results showed that the most severe accidents occur when entering a turn, about half of which occurred on wet roads. Tests conducted by independent experts showed that the new model demonstrates significantly better traction in such conditions.
The improvement of almost all operational characteristics was achieved due to three technological innovations.
Innovative lamella structure
When developing the Michelin Primacy 3 model, the French tire manufacturers had to solve a rather difficult task of providing the maximum possible contact patch area during sharp braking or when entering a turn, both on dry and wet roads. This is very important, since the increased size of the contact patch allows for more efficient braking, and when entering a turn, it reduces the likelihood of the occurrence of such a dangerous phenomenon as front axle drift. This tire was the first model to feature a new tread pattern with self-locking lamellas. Its effectiveness was so high that the French manufacturer decided to patent its development. The lamellas used in this model work on the same principles as similar tread elements on winter tires. I.e. when in contact with the road surface, the lamella walls close tightly between themselves, which does not allow the tread blocks to deform, thereby increasing their stiffness and, therefore, traction. But, unlike winter tires, this model is equipped with lamellas with a thickness of two tenths of a millimeter, which is several times less.
Tread blocks with smoothed edges
The tread pattern of the new model features a large number of individual blocks. To reduce the level of deformative changes caused by the effect of dynamic acceleration, their edges were smoothed. The reason for this technical solution was that when in contact with the road surface, the right angle of the tread block, catching on road irregularities, causes its deformation, which reduces the contact area. If we take into account that this tire is equipped with hundreds of separate blocks, the reduction in the contact patch area can be quite significant. The smoothed edges of the tread blocks allow them to adhere more effectively to the road surface, thereby improving traction with it.
Innovative rubber compound
As you know, the traction of a modern tire largely depends on the composition of the rubber compound. In this model, the rubber compound, like the above-mentioned lamellas, demonstrated the same impressive effectiveness and, therefore, it was also patented. The key feature of the new rubber compound Michelin Primacy 3 was the ability to provide excellent traction without compromising other important characteristics - tread wear resistance and fuel efficiency. This was achieved by including three elastomers, a synthetic plasticizer, and a reinforcing agent based on a silicon-containing substance in its composition. However, the effectiveness of the rubber compound is ensured not so much by the ingredients in its composition, but by the selection of the dosage and the method of preparation.
Since the developer of this tire is Michelin, special attention was paid to ensuring high fuel efficiency during its development. The company's specialists took another step in perfecting its design. In particular, the tread was equipped with additional layers, which reduced the level of micro-deformation. This led to a decrease in the heating of the tire during movement, as a result of which the rolling resistance decreased, and therefore, fuel consumption. In addition, other materials used in the tire's design are characterized by low heat generation during movement, which also had a positive effect on fuel efficiency.
Main features of Michelin Primacy 3
- Excellent traction in any conditions, thanks to the maximum increased contact patch area;
- Excellent acceleration and braking efficiency, especially on wet surfaces, provided by a large number of tread blocks;
- Five longitudinal ribs provide excellent directional stability throughout the speed range;
- High resistance to aquaplaning due to the excellent performance of the drainage system, which features four longitudinal and numerous transverse channels;
- Very low heat generation during movement, ensured by the use of new materials with reduced heat generation.
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