Tyre recycling is not new to the world. For .over 100 years, tyres have been recycled one way or the other. This is due to the amount of money spent on acquiring rubber for making tyres.
However, here’s what Michelin is proposing; a recycling of 100% of all her tyres and to use 80% sustainable materials. You won’t be finding these tyres for sale anytime soon, though. This is because the timeline for this to be achieved is 2048, over 28 years from now.
This French company started just as a rubber factory in Clermont-Ferrand. Now they have grown into the world’s 2nd biggest tyre manufacturer in the world. From serving just one part of France, we now have Michelin serving the whole world. In the UAE we have Michelin Dubai, its presence is felt in Africa and every other continent of the world. In size Michelin comes next to Bridgestone, the Japanese tyre giant.
However as for innovations, Michelin could be said to be the leader, when it comes to tyre manufacturing. They are also leading in recycling and advocating for a more transparent approach to testing.
Now basically when stats of tyres are released, both run time and failure time, what we get are the data of new tyres. However, Michelin is advocating for tyre companies to begin to release data of tyres which have been tested in their mid-life. This information alone could revolutionize customer purchase of tyres.
Innovation and being front liners is nothing new to Michelin. The company was started by two brothers, in 1889, Edourd and Andre Michelin. Together they worked on creating a pneumatic tyre that could be detached from the wheel.
Then the company in 1934 introduced the first RF tyre; a term which is commonly used as a sales word by many tyre manufactures. Basically the run flat tyre is a kind of tyre that can run for a while after it might have been punctured. It is not supposed to be a substitute for a good tyre, but it can take you closer to where you can get help.
Finally in 1946, Michelin brought about an innovation, a very important one in the tyre industry. It is called the radial tyre. It was marketed as “X” tyre then, perhaps to cloak its working principles from competitors. It did well in Europe and Asia; however, it had problems entering the American market. The tyre was great for its superior handling and fuel economy. The radial tyre now has 100% share of the American market.
Innovation is nothing new to Michelin; it has taken them to the top of the pinnacle of tyre industry where they currently occupy. We can’t wait for 2048 where their tyres for sale will be the 4R tyres. That’s what they are calling their tyre which will be made from 80% renewable materials.
Maybe then tyre will be cheaper, and then people won’t have to buy old tyres any more.
