[S2!!!]

In May 2015, the new Michelin CrossClimate tyre will make its debut, a summer tyre that has been certified for use in winter. It is said to deliver an appropriate level of safety in all weather conditions, throughout the year.

The Michelin CrossClimate claims to combine the benefits of summer and winter tires. It brakes in short distances on dry ground, has earned the top “A” rating in wet braking on European tire labels and is approved for winter use, indicated with the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) certification (displayed on the sidewall) indicating that it can be used in all seasons, even in countries that require special equipment for winter driving. Motorists can drive the entire year in the most common weather situations, on just one set of Michelin CrossClimate tyres.

Michelin CrossClimate benefits from 3 interlinked tire parts: the design, the structure, the materials, and specially the rubber compounds, the design of the tread components, and the tread’s new self-blocking sipes.

For the tread: This specific material has the flexibility to enhance the rubber's ability to match variations in road surface, regardless of the temperature. Grip is optimized regardless of the conditions (snow-covered, wet, dry). Thanks to these characteristics, the Michelin CrossClimate obtained the best possible rating, “A”, indicated on the European label, rating wet braking. A new material, under the tread, improves the tire's energy efficiency due to its ability to resist heat build-up. Michelin’s engineers have been able to reduce this heat build-up by incorporating new generation silica into the rubber compound, thereby reducing fuel consumption with the Michelin CrossClimate.

The combination of a V-shaped tread with new self-blocking 3D sipes. This variable angle unique V-shaped tread optimizes grip on the snow:
- For lateral forces thanks to the specific angle of the central part of the tread.
- For longitudinal forces thanks to the wider angle of the shoulder areas.

This V-shaped tread is combined with new self-blocking 3D sipes:
Extremely wavy, varying in thickness and geometrically complex, these full-depth sipes improve vehicle traction. The vertical and lateral waves in the sipes have a self-blocking function. This means that they work together to give the tread blocks greater rigidity. The tire is more stable as a result, no matter what forces are acting on it, whether longitudinal force when braking and accelerating or lateral force when cornering.

The combination of beveled angles and sipes:
The beveled angles on the rubber blocks give optimal ground contact and thus improve braking performance on dry surfaces. Thanks to this innovative design, Michelin combines the addition of these beveled angles with complex full-depth sipes, ensuring quality braking and traction on snow.

The tire will be available in the following sizes:

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by S2!!!

In May 2015, the new Michelin CrossClimate tyre will make its debut, a summer tyre that has been certified for use in winter. It is said to deliver an appropriate level of safety in all weather conditions, throughout the year.

Certified? Who certifies tyres?
Jeroen

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Certified? Who certifies tyres?
Jeroen

The CrossClimate carries the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) certification (displayed on the sidewall).

The introduction of a legal marking related to performance has made the identification of winter tires more simple. The "Alpine" symbol, or the three-peak-mountain with snowflake (‘3PMSF’) came into force in November 2012 under EU Regulation 661/2009 on the Safety of Motor Vehicles. The 3PMSF can only be used if a tire passes a minimum required performance on snow - the so called “snow grip index”.*

Source

UNECE Regulation 117, to be implemented in the EU through Regulation (EC) 661/2009, requires for snow tyres a minimum level of performance threshold on snow (braking and traction). If the tyre meets the criteria, it can be marked with the new three-peak snowflake symbol.

Source

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by GTO

The CrossClimate carries the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) certification (displayed on the side wall]

Thanks,
Am I correct in understanding that in essence this is all self certification, rather then an independent body testing individual tyres?

Jeroen

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Thanks,
Am I correct in understanding that in essence this is all self certification, rather then an independent body testing individual tyres?

Jeroen

They way it works is that the Government/NonProfit body lays out the detailed spec and test procedure which companies adhere to when coming out with these numbers. There is an SAE procedure for measuring bhp and EPA procedure for measuring FE. (ARAI in India). Right now there is not one for Cd but more on that later

So, in a way its self certified...but keep in mind they can be audited anytime.

Of course, there is always wiggle room to fudge the numbers and it happens every now and then. Mazda got into trouble few years back because their cars did not make the power they advertised and Ford got into trouble because their Fusions/Elantra did not meet the FE label. All 3 ended up paying hefty fines and revising labels and compensating customers.