Launched in Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and South America beginning in 2008, the Energy Saver is Michelin’s all-new fourth generation of “green” car tires, comprising a complete lineup that replaces the previous range. More than just a marketing slogan, the new name integrates and expresses the mission of a tire dedicated to improving the mobility of people and goods, while also generating cost savings, helping to protect the environment and above all enhancing user safety. As proved in tests, the technology deployed in the Michelin Energy Saver lineup improves rolling resistance by nearly 20% thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to propel the vehicle on which the tires are fitted while shortening braking distances.

The Michelin Group’s long-term strategic focus is summed up in the new Energy Saver lineup. Attentive to the concerns not only of motorists but of all road users, Michelin designs and develops tires to meet their expectations. According to a survey of a representative sampling of 4,300 motorists in Germany, France and the UK, conducted by Research International in 2005 survey, consumer concerns about tires can be divided into three main areas of performance:
- The first and foremost is safety. Consumers want a tire that delivers optimal safety in all driving conditions.
- The second is longevity. The survey showed that among the people unsatisfied with their tires, 72% are discontented because their tires wear down too fast.
- The third expectation has to do with fuel consumption, with 58% of the people surveyed in favor of technological solutions that improve fuel efficiency.

These expectations are simple and clearly stated, but the problem lies elsewhere. To satisfy them, manufacturers must design a tire that delivers outstanding performance in all three areas—safety, longevity and fuel efficiency. That’s the challenge that is met by the new Michelin Energy Saver.

Safety performance

In addition to enhanced fuel efficiency, the Michelin Energy Saver also provides exceptional safety performance, notably shorter braking distances on wet roads), as well as very long tread life. According to a study by TÜV SÜD Automotive, the Michelin Energy Saver delivers an average 40% more mileage than other leading brand-name tires in the three most widely used sizes. Whereas a competitor’s tire may reach its limit, for example, at 30,000 km, the Michelin Energy Saver—in perfectly identical conditions of use—could cover more than 40,000 km. Based on average annual driving distances in Europe, this means nearly an additional year of driving. By combining lower fuel consumption and greater longevity, the Michelin Energy Save provides users with a host of benefits. The tires really do enable motorists to drive further, safely, while spending less.

Achieving these results required an unprecedented research and development budget. Each year, the Michelin Group allocates nearly 4% of net sales to its Technology Center, where reducing the environmental impact of all its tires across all product lines is a top priority. The fact that the Energy Saver is Michelin’s fourth generation of low rolling resistance tire proves that point. Introduced in 1992, Michelin’s original Energy range gave the world its first tire that integrated silica into the rubber compound for the express purpose of reducing rolling resistance. Since 1992, more than 9.37 billion liters of fuel has been saved and over 23 million tons of CO2 has not been released into the atmosphere.

The Michelin Energy Saver range is now available in replacement tire distribution networks in sizes that cover the vast majority of small city cars, sedans, coupes and MPVs available in the market.

Tires in the Energy Saver family are also fitted (or soon will be) as original equipment on new vehicles. Aware of the gains provided by Michelin’s latest green tire, carmakers see it as a way of improving their vehicles’ energy balance while continuing to provide users with maximum safety protection.

Competitive edge

Reducing fuel consumption and significantly increasing tread life only make sense if the gains are made without compromising the tire’s safety performance. The new Michelin Energy Saver does all three—reduces the amount of fuel consumed, lasts longer and shortens the distance needed to bring the vehicle to a halt.

Accident statistics have shown that the majority of serious accidents in Europe occur in rainy conditions. That’s why Michelin designed the Energy Saver to deliver maximal grip on wet surfaces throughout the tire’s entire life.

In wet-road tests conducted by TÜV SÜD Automotive, a car equipped with the Michelin Energy Saver has a braking distance three meters shorter than the same vehicle fitted with the previous-generation tires (when brakes are applied at 80 km/h). The same study showed that, in identical wet-road conditions, the Michelin Energy Saver also has a shorter braking distance than the average for major tire brands. This provides an additional safety advantage for drivers as well as other road users.

Making consumers aware of energy-saving needs

Rolling resistance varies greatly from one tire to another, even among the major brands. Given the importance of this challenge, Michelin is actively pursuing initiatives to provide drivers with clear, transparent information about tire energy performance. Through the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO), Michelin has recommended the implementation of an energy efficiency indexing system for tires, and the entire European tire industry is working to get the project off the ground.

The system would be based on information like that provided by the automobile industry since 2006 to rate vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In a similar fashion, motorists looking to purchase tires would be able to see the energy performance of the range they are considering.

The label could appear on tires sold in Europe beginning in 2011. The classification would range from an ‘A’ rating for tires with the best energy performance to a low rating (not yet defined) for the least efficient. Tires that fall below the lowest rating would be banned from sale in Europe.

Drawing on an automobile industry practice introduced in 2006, Michelin is promoting the deployment of a similar system for tires that would enable consumers to see the energy performance of all tires in their market before they make their purchase.