Extensive trials carried out by the DEKRA Automobile Test Centre in Germany have shown Michelin summer car tyres last an average of over 8,000 kilometres longer than the average mileage for a group of well-known competitor brands .
The trial was conducted over a two-year period and included rigorous testing of Michelin’s Energy Saver, CrossClimate , Latitude Sport 3, Pilot Sport 4 and Primacy tyres versus comparable fitments from brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook, Nokian, Pirelli and Vredestein.
The DEKRA results demonstrated that a set of Michelin tyres travelled an average of 8,009 kilometres further before needing to be replaced – roughly the equivalent of driving from Melbourne to Darwin and back again.
Commenting on the results, Andy Fern, Michelin’s Head of Fleet, says: “this performance advantage is equivalent to an extra seven months of motoring for a an average Australian vehicle. That represents a very real saving in expenditure and downtime for fleet managers.
“It is further evidence of why Michelin tyres remain such a popular choice for fleets and leasing companies. Downtime has always been a key consideration for fleets, and for leasing companies an 8,000 kilometre advantage per set of tyres can have a noticeable impact on the total number of tyres fitted over the life of the contract. There’s also a sound environmental argument for fitting the brand of tyre which will last the longest.”
Cedric Binoit, Managing Director at Michelin Australia says “The Australian tyre market is experiencing faster growth than predicted. Recent industry research predicted that sales will reach in excess of $5 billion by 2021; a figure driven in part by expanding vehicle fleets”.
“As such the fleet market represents an enormous opportunity for Michelin to increase sales in the future. Our challenge is not in product development but rather in engaging Australian fleet managers and consumers so they can understand the safety and cost benefits of adopting our market leading tyre technologies.”
Michelin invests more than $1 billion in research and development every year, which enables it to design new generations of tyres offering the optimum blend of longevity, fuel-efficiency, safety, road handling and comfort – an essential combination of factors known as ‘Michelin Total Performance’.
