Photo: Michelin (modified by autoevolution)
I have the privilege of covering both automotive and aerospace here at autoevolution. As one of the few places on the web that does both, one company we see popping up on both sides of the aisle consistently is Michelin. Sometimes, it really makes us think. Exactly how much overlap is there between automotive and aerospace for a tire company that is an industry leader in both?
Of course, any engineer in either discipline could tell you that the composition of a car tire and an airplane tire is worlds apart. But is there any intersection between the two? Luckily, I had a chance to talk to someone who could help me clarify things. Her name is Amanda Murphy, and she’s the director of Global General Aviation at Michelin Aircraft. With her unmatched ability to make complex engineering jargon understandable to laypeople, I was finally about to get the answer to my question about the potential overlap between aerospace and automotive.
“While specific parts of the organization are dedicated to specific products, there are cross-functional teams around the world working together to develop the best possible products and solutions to implement in each market segment,” Murphy said of the working relationship between Michelin Aviation and Michelin’s road vehicle operations. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Michelin brand across our segments, solutions and networks, and Michelin invests nearly $760 million in R&D each year. By creating more enjoyable, reliable and sustainable products and services, Michelin works to improve the quality of life on the move across the company and around the world.
While Michelin’s automotive and aerospace R&D teams are separate, this annual investment provides both parties with the funds to help its racing tires find more grip as much as it helps airliners hold on to hard landings. With unique, proprietary rubber compound blends that make up each tire, every model in the lineup, regardless of application, is refined to today’s highest standards. From both a performance and sustainability perspective, this R&D effectively spills over into neighboring tire segments, as proper innovation at any multifaceted manufacturer tends to do.
“Michelin's commitment to innovation is always at the forefront. This includes learning how different materials and processes affect the performance of different products and sharing that knowledge across product lines,” Murphy said of the special relationship between the automotive and aerospace ends of Michelin's portfolio. Murphy observed. “Furthermore, each plant, regardless of product or location, is subject to the same rigorous safety, quality and production standards and shares the same Michelin core values.”
Much like an OEM automaker shows off its latest and greatest at auto shows, Michelin Aviation struts its stuff at aviation counterparts around the world. Having debuted its booth at the 2024 EAA Air Venture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Michelin once again proved that R&D benefits all of its business lines, focusing only on the aviation side of things. At an event packed with dozens of industry heavyweights, Michelin unveiled an extension of its ubiquitous Pilot line of general aviation tires.
“Michelin is pleased to announce the expansion of the Michelin Pilot tire line, which offers up to 21% greater slip depth than Goodyear's Flight Custom III tire,” Murphy talked about Michelin’s main attraction at this year’s EAA Air Venture. While it may not be the most eye-catching piece of technology on display at Oshkosh this year, there’s a good chance the Michelin Pilot tire will have a more direct impact on the average pilot than anything else at the show. “The Michelin Pilot tire is designed to keep the weight of the product low by using thinner but stronger cords that give us the ability to increase the skid depth. We designed this to provide a tire with greater landings and durability.”
From light to medium civil aircraft, from piston engines to turboprops, single or twin, with or without air chambers, there are not many applications that the Pilot series does not cover that do not involve jet engines or air-to-air missiles. But even beyond the Pilot series, the boundaries of Michelin's R&D department are not limited to the Earth's atmosphere. In the burgeoning space sector stimulated by recent advances by private companies, Michelin is nothing less than a major contributor.
“Michelin is very involved in the current space program. NASA recently announced that the Moon RACER team, of which Michelin is a member, has been selected for the feasibility study of Phase 1 of the ARTEMIS project. This project, entitled 'Lunar Terrain Vehicle Phase 1 Feasibility Study', aims to design a lunar vehicle capable of operating in extreme conditions on the Moon and for 10 years.” Murphy talked about Michelin’s presence in space. A vital but little-discussed venture for Europe’s tire magnates.
“In addition to Michelin, the team led by Intuitive Machines also includes AVL, Boeing and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Michelin will use its expertise in airless tires and its knowledge of high-tech materials to design a moon wheel that can withstand extreme temperatures. [above 100°C and below -240°C]solar and galactic radiation, preserving the rover's battery life and ensuring maximum traction on soft and aggressive terrain. The developments made within this project will allow Michelin to continue to innovate in terrestrial applications.” So, Michelin is as adept at fitting tires to a Lunar Rover as it is to a Le Mans race car.
We bet this isn’t the sales pitch you were expecting. But if nothing else, it just goes to show that a tire company as big as Michelin has its hands in more pies than the average Parisian bakery can churn out in an afternoon. In a more saturated market segment than most with competition of varying quality, Michelin proves that high quality still trumps quantity in civil aviation. Big thanks to Amanda and the Michelin aviation team for speaking with us. Check out our trip to the Michelin Sustainability Summit 2024 here if you want to learn more.