Overview of the winter studded tire Michelin X Ice North 3 generation

A few months ago, the tire manufacturer Michelin introduced its new collection of studded tires Michelin X Ice North 3 generations. According to the engineers of the company, the updated tire will be more effective at braking and less noisy on the way. Well, let's see if this is really so.

Before we start the review, let's note one small feature - the new generation of tires Michelin X Ice North got rid of 30 percent of its studs. Why was this done and what kind of efficiency can it be?

The fact is that these changes were made after the introduction of new regulations in the Scandinavian countries, according to which the tire should have no more than 50 spikes per 1 meter. This law was adopted to ensure that the wheels are less destroying the asphalt pavement. After the introduction of this standard, the French engineers faced a difficult task: to remove a certain number of spikes from the tread of the Michelin X Ice North tire and at the same time to preserve all the previous characteristics of the clutch of the wheel with the road. To translate these plans into reality, a number of technological changes were made.

What updates have been made?

When creating a new generation of tires Michelin X Ice, the composition of the rubber compound was first changed. Now the inner layer of the product can change its hardness depending on the temperature. Thus, if the street is minus 5-10 degrees Celsius, the hardness of the inner layer of rubber increases by 20 times. If overboard is minus 19-25 degrees, this figure is increased by 30 times. If the air temperature is plus, the inner layer of rubber, where the bases of the studs are, becomes a few dozen times softer. Accordingly, the spike is not so much pressing on the surface of the earth and as if "hiding" in the tread of automotive rubber. On the contrary, at subzero temperatures, it presses as hard as possible on the surface, as if biting into ice and rolled snow. Thus, when the snow melts, the wheel does not spoil the asphalt so much, and the spikes themselves remain in order. Due to this, the service life of Michelin X Ice North increased by 25 percent (plus one operating season in winter).

Also, large changes have affected the thorns themselves. Now they have a different geometry of faces, and thanks to the increased contact patch they practically do not fall out during long operation on bare asphalt. The spike, when hit on this surface, raises part of the tire around itself. Such a wheel will serve five or more seasons. By the way, thanks to the reduction in the number of spikes on the tread, this tire became almost silent when driving around the city and its features. The cabin is very quiet at all speeds.

Price

The average price for tires "Michelin" of the third generation is 5,5 thousand rubles. The cost directly depends on the width and diameter of the tire.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can say that the third generation Michelin tires differ markedly improved consumer qualities in comparison with their predecessors - Michelin X Ice xi2. Now the novelty has become more efficient and reliable, and its value has remained at the same level. If this goes on, this tire will become a cult in the world market.