Michelin Alpin 5 N0 Tyre - 205/55 R16 91H

Michelin Alpin 5 Outstanding security due to the innovative tehnology. Two core technologies for optimum winter performance. The 'teeth effect', allows the tyre to 'bite' in the snow and so to better resist aquaplaning. The new premium tire has a directional tread, an arrowshaped profile, as well as specially designed tread blocks with high negative proportion. This makes the tyre to press in the snow, causing a sort of 'teeth effect'. Thanks to the realignment of the side channels, the water is efficiently derived aside, reducing the risk of aquaplaning significantly.

The slats act like thousands of tiny claws that snag on the ground and produce traction. This effect is all the more effective when the tire has a high number of slats. MICHELIN Alpin 5 has, compared to its predecessor in size 205/55 R16 over more that 12% tread pattern and 16% more slats. Also the tread's negative proportion is increased by 17%. Contact surface effect for a better steering precision. The 'StabiliGrip' tehnology ensures a special tread which allows. The larger the contact area on the ground, the better the grip.

Because the tyre deforms at each wheel rotation, the Michelin engineers have specifically designed the tread pattern so that the sipes in the tread block block themselves. The high silica content in the rubber compound ensures better grip on dry and wet roads. For the first time in the production of a winter tyre, Michelin utilised the inovative 'Tread Compound Technology' and included functional elastomers (synthetic rubber) in the material compund. These functional elastomers allow a very homogeneous rubber mixture with a higher silica content and thus provide better grip on wet and snowy roads, without compromising the energy efficiency of the tire.

In addition, the new rubber compound also includes Michelin's fourth generation of 'Helio Compound Technology'. Through the use of sunflower oil, the tyre performance is optimized even at very low temperatures. The European Union has introduced the EU Tyre Label by Regulation (No. 1222/2009) identically and bindingly for all EU member states. It applies to passenger car tyres, light commercial vehicle tyres and heavy commercial vehicle tyres produced after 01.07.2012. With this regulation, the European Union is pursuing the goal of promoting economic and ecological efficiency in road traffic as well as increasing road safety on the one hand, and on the other hand, granting consumers more product transparency and at the same time serving as an active decisionmaking aid.

Already during the incorporation, experts criticise the fact that the EU Tyre Label unfortunately only shows a few product characteristics. Apart from rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling noise, which are the main focus of EU tyre labelling, tyres have much more important and safetyrelevant product characteristics, such as aquaplaning properties, driving stability, service life, braking properties on dry and wet roads, behaviour in wintry conditions, etc. Tyre manufacturers point out that test results from various institutions and journals remain an important information medium for the end consumer.

These tests usually focus on further safetyrelevant product characteristics besides the EU standard qualifications for tyre labelling, which are always important for the final customer. I have been driving the Alpin 5 & 6 all year round (never change back to summers anymore). Michelins are safe and break very well in summer and winter despite what the manufacturers say, although I only have experience with Michelin Alpin winter tyres. In the UK it's never 35 degrees for any length of time hence the reason for keeping them on the car in the summer.

Can't fault grip either in both winter and summer and in addition to this tyre wear is fantastic. 44000 miles on front tyres (Alpin 5 now replaced by Alpin 6), 66000 miles on rear tyres (Alpin 5). The tyres got through the MOT on an advisory, so next time round I would replace the tyres sooner. Along with this comes a strong engagement with the environment, as modern mobility must be sustainable and not detrimental to the environment. Each year the Michelin Group produces more than 178 million tires in 68 production facilities in 17 countries, and it operates sales networks in more than 170 countries.

Michelin employs 111,700 people worldwide and owns one of the oldest, most famous trademarks in the world the legendary Michelin Man. In the development of new products, Michelin faithfully pursues the concept of "MICHELIN Total Performance", backed by the rigorous standard of always bringing together a number of performance characteristics into a tire, to achieve optimal results. We follow this philosophy not only in the development of our standard products, but also in motorsports. Numerous technical innovations help to relieve burdens on the environment, drivers, and businesses.

To better understand the conditions which tires are subjected to in everyday use, in the summer of 2014 Michelin began a unique research project the Road Usage Lab. Vehicles from 3,000 drivers in Europe were equipped with special measurement devices to record data about the tires' use. These valuable findings are being employed in the development of future tire models, making them better suited to the needs of real drivers.