Some netizens have questioned why, as a tire manufacturer, they place so much emphasis on top-tier automotive events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their level of attention is on par with that of complete car manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Toyota.

According to Michelin, participating in such premier automotive races allows them to enhance tire quality and expand into broader markets. For Michelin, contemporary car racing events play an extremely central role. Racetracks around the world provide an ideal setting for innovation and for assessing disruptive products and their advanced applications under extreme conditions. It may come as a surprise, but for Michelin, the data gathered from a single race is equivalent to months of testing in their research and development centers. This indirectly proves the extraordinary significance of such top-tier automotive events for tire manufacturers, and Michelin feels greatly benefited from being a part of them. This will act as an accelerator for Michelin's innovation.

So, how exactly does such a top-tier automotive event drive progress for Michelin tires? From what I've learned after the Le Mans event, it's mainly in the following three areas:

1. Developing increasingly durable materials through racing sports

In such a premier automotive race, tires that are durable enough can provide stable and fast lap times for the competing vehicles. Michelin has repeatedly set new records in tire lifespan in this regard, thanks to their continuous improvement of the durability of the raw materials they use. The opportunity to test in top-tier automotive races is therefore extremely valuable.

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In fact, Michelin has always been an expert in the field of composite materials. For Michelin, their vision is for their tires to stand out for their excellent performance from the first lap to the last, whether on regular roads or on the racetrack. For instance, on the track, Michelin has a series of brilliant innovations worth reviewing, which have helped to extend the lifespan of their racing tires and thus reduced the number of tires needed for the race. At the same time, Michelin's products have also contributed to a large number of tire lifespan benchmarks, including, of course, at Le Mans.Since 2011, Michelin tires, which are fitted on the complex and ingenious prototype cars at Le Mans, have successfully achieved and surpassed a driving life of 700km, equivalent to completing more than two full Formula 1 races without affecting sustainability. On the contrary, in fact, due to the progress made by Michelin, the number of tires consumed per vehicle has been halved since the early 2000s, despite a significant leap in the performance of prototype cars during the same period. For instance, in the 6-hour endurance race at Imola, Italy, last April, a Ferrari Hypercar completed 632 kilometers (129 laps) with a single set of Michelin tires, setting a new record for Michelin.

In addition to their excellent durability, Michelin tires have an average braking distance that is 3.4 meters shorter than some competitors' tires when new. This is equivalent to the length of a small car and is obviously crucial in emergency braking situations. Michelin also estimates that if all tires were used down to the European minimum tread depth limit of 1.6 millimeters, approximately 400 million tires could be saved globally, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 35 million tons. Currently, the average remaining tread depth of replaced tires is over 3 millimeters, which equates to an average life wasted by 20%.

2. Utilizing motorsports to develop increasingly sustainable materials

Beyond providing technology that extends tire life, Michelin places great emphasis on the raw materials used to manufacture tires. Research experts and scientists are committed to developing renewable and recyclable solutions, and in this regard, Michelin's motorsports have actually surpassed the plan, effectively serving as a laboratory for eco-friendly technologies. Their goal is for all products developed and manufactured in the future to be 100% recyclable or renewable.

It is reported that Michelin's goal is to continue increasing the proportion of bio-based, renewable, and recyclable raw materials used in the tires it manufactures without adversely affecting safety or performance. Michelin has set a target for 40% of the materials in its tires to be renewable or recyclable by 2030, with this proportion reaching 100% by 2050.

It is understood that Michelin's motorsports work is ahead of this plan, as it acts as an accelerator for environmental solutions. For example, the all-electric motorcycles participating in the FIM MotoE World Cup currently use tires with over 50% of the materials being such sustainable materials. Considering their annual production exceeds 1,000 units, these tires are essentially mass-produced.

For instance, in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, Michelin will showcase a racing tire containing 71% renewable/recyclable raw materials. This tire will be used for the Mission H24 hydrogen-powered racing prototype and the all-electric competition, namely the Porsche GT4 ePerformance.In just three short years, the proportion of renewable and recyclable materials in this tire has increased from 46% to 71%. These materials include natural rubber, reclaimed carbon black from used tires (obtained through pyrolysis by partner company Enviro), and recycled steel (produced by partner company Global Steel Wire in electric arc furnaces), as well as extracts from orange and lemon peels, rosin, and sunflower seed oil.

3. Leveraging the potential of data and developing simulation technologies through motorsports

Motorsports are of great importance to Michelin tires in today's fully digitalized world, one reason being the vast amount of high-quality data it provides. The data collected during races effectively supports Michelin's systems and complex mathematical models, enabling not only the virtual development of new racing tires but also benefiting a broader public. At the same time, Michelin's simulation development technology has become a crucial cornerstone for collaboration with automobile and motorcycle manufacturers. It can be said that Michelin's commitment to current and future motorsports is the foundation that drives Michelin's spirit of innovation.

For instance, the current MICHELIN Pilot Sport Endurance Slick/Wet series is entirely developed using simulation technology. In fact, Michelin's racing sports have accumulated a significant amount of cutting-edge expertise in this field, based on systematic, detailed analysis of data collected over race weekends. This data is input into Michelin's unique modeling system to refine their simulation of tire behavior, including under extreme conditions. Utilizing smart data, Michelin's digital capabilities can take into account extremely critical factors in simulation work, such as the impact of temperature on raw materials and pressure fluctuations during vehicle travel. These patented, encrypted algorithms are among the world's most advanced, allowing tire designers to conduct more detailed designs during the development phase.

Further proof of the performance and scope of Michelin's digital capabilities is that the tires used by Hypercar prototypes participating in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are identical to those provided to FIA WEC teams. This is thanks to Michelin's system's ability to establish a specific specification, optimizing performance on circuits with various characteristics. Michelin's mastery of technology also enables it to reduce the time required for track testing and halve the development lead time, significantly reducing CO2 emissions associated with race tire development.

In conclusion,It can be said that Michelin's commitment to top-tier automotive events stems from innovation. It is precisely this innovation that allows us to ultimately enjoy more technologically advanced and higher quality tire services in our daily vehicle use.