The winter passenger tire Michelin X-Ice North 3 has incorporated the latest innovative developments of the French tire giant, from the Smart Stud System to the Ice Powder Remover technology. At the same time, it is impossible not to note the exceptional applicability of this model, which is offered in 66 sizes with a mounting diameter from 15 to 20 inches.
Smart Stud System
In the development process, the company's specialists combined several innovative technologies into a single complex, allowing to increase the tire's efficiency in several directions at once. One of these complexes is the Smart Stud System, which consists of a new generation of thermally active rubber compound, Ice Powder Remover technology, and studs of a special conical shape.
Previous models of winter tires were equipped with a two-layer tread, where the upper layer provides maximum grip with the road surface, and the lower one - fixation of the studs. Unlike them, the tread of the new product is made from a thermally active rubber compound used as an inner layer. Its key feature is the ability to change physical characteristics depending on the temperature of the surrounding environment. At high temperatures, the inner layer becomes very elastic, due to which the studs are literally pushed into the tread, which significantly improves grip on dry asphalt. As the temperature regime decreases, the stiffness of the inner layer increases, as a result of which the studs receive a very hard base, which increases the pressure on the icy surface, ensuring more reliable grip with the icy road.
Another part of the Smart Stud System is the ice chip removal technology. When moving on ice, ice chips appear around the studs, which significantly reduce the tire's grip with the surface. To solve this problem, French tire manufacturers have placed special wells in the area around the studs, which serve as a kind of accumulator for ice chips.
The stud design has also undergone certain changes. It is distinguished by the fact that a conical leg is installed on a wide base, on which there is a flange with a hard alloy insert. Thanks to this solution, it was possible to ensure more reliable fixation of the stud in the tread, as well as significantly extend its service life.
Tread pattern with increased number of grip edges
Compared to the previous model, the new tire has a tread that contains a significantly larger number of grip edges, which made it possible to provide excellent handling on a snowy road. In addition, the tread is equipped with a special shape of the shoulder area, which has been named Step In-Step Out. Its feature is that the blocks of the shoulder areas have a different protrusion beyond the tire's sidewalls. Due to this, it was possible to significantly increase the passability on deep snow and snow slush.
Changed angle of drainage channels
To increase resistance to aquaplaning and slushplaning, the company's specialists have changed the angle of the drainage channels. Now they are located from the central part of the tread to its outer side, which significantly increases the efficiency of the drainage system.
Flex-Ice 3 rubber compound
The outer layer of the Michelin X-Ice North 3 tread is made from the third generation of the company's proprietary Flexi-Ice rubber compound. The main innovation was the change in the proportional content of natural and synthetic rubber, as well as an increase in the silica content. This made it possible to significantly improve grip on wet roads without compromising traction and slip properties on icy and snowy surfaces. In addition, the increased silica content has had a positive effect on the tread's resistance to abrasive wear.
Reinforced sidewall construction
The new winter tire from Michelin is distinguished by a more robust sidewall construction. This was done in order to provide high reliability during operation on roads of poor quality. The increased hardness of the sidewalls allows the tire to more effectively absorb shocks from road irregularities.
IronFlex technology
For the same purpose, the IronFlex technology was applied. It involves the introduction of an additional layer of steel wires into the carcass structure. This allows for rapid dissipation of peak loads that occur when hitting a bump.
Main features of Michelin X-Ice North 3
- The Smart Stud System provides unparalleled grip on ice;
- The ice chip removal technology improves grip properties on icy surfaces;
- The new conical shape of the studs significantly extends their service life, ensuring their more reliable fixation in the tread;
- The thermally active rubber compound, from which the inner layer of the tread is made, can change its physical properties depending on the temperature of the external environment, ensuring optimal operating characteristics in any conditions;
- The tread pattern with an increased number of grip edges provides reliable grip on a snowy road;
- The Flex-Ice 3 rubber compound, due to the change in the proportion of natural and synthetic rubber content, as well as the increased silica content, provides excellent grip, both on wet and icy roads;
- The reinforced sidewall construction, combined with the IronFlex technology, has minimized the risk of damage when driving over bumps.
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