Optimal ingredients

Michelin tyres are high-tech products made up of more than 200 components. Perfectly matched components are designed to deliver remarkable performance in terms of safety, comfort and reducing environmental impact for the mobility of today and tomorrow.

Michelin uses a variety of different materials to manufacture the components - including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, metal, textiles, fillers (including carbon black and silica) as well as plasticisers (resins) and elements such as sulphur for vulcanisation.

Michelin's goal is to optimise all components of the tyre with a view to even greater sustainability. To this end, the company uses its extensive expertise in the field of high-tech materials as well as its own technology incubator.

One example is Michelin's project to produce butadiene from biomass (wood waste, rice husks, or corn straw). Butadiene is an important component of synthetic rubbers used in the production of tyres. With the production from biomass, Michelin is creating the conditions to replace butadiene from petroleum extraction. In addition, the company is already implementing many other projects to regenerate plastic (PET), recycle polystyrene or recover soot from used tyres.

Michelin also pursues the goal of minimising the use of materials for tyre production while maximising performance and efficiency in all development processes. The overriding strategy is to protect the environment as much as possible and to ensure that the tyre has an optimal environmental balance.

This is achieved through innovative manufacturing processes, a long service life and the continuous improvement of rolling resistance - factors that have a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions.

Michelin has clearly defined its goal: a 100% sustainable tyre! An important prerequisite for this is the responsible handling in the production process of natural rubber, the main ingredient in tyre production. Michelin made a commitment at an early stage to actively shape the industry in an environmentally compatible manner and for the benefit of all involved. With this in mind, Michelin incorporates its know-how into the further development of production, because the quality of Michelin tyres is, in addition to the many components, also the result of a complex manufacturing process.

Competent teams

More than 6,000 experts such as engineers, researchers, chemists and developers are committed in the Michelin Group worldwide to achieving the goal of 100% sustainable tyre production by 2050.

In doing so, Michelin knows that the speed of innovation and the change in mobility require new levels of collaboration. With this in mind, MICHELIN is driving forward initiatives with innovative technology partners, bringing together teams from a wide range of backgrounds.