Motorsport, an accelerator of innovation
Over the decades, we are proud to have globally demonstrated the performance of our racing tyres. Today, however, the nature of motorsport has changed. The colossal challenge we face is to develop All Sustainable mass-market tyres whose design and production have a limited impact on the Earth's resources, biodiversity and CO₂ emissions, without detracting from the performance that has made the MICHELIN brand a success.
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WHY WE GO RACING?
More than ever, motor racing serves as an invaluable accelerator of technological innovation. The extreme conditions that are inherent in motorsport provide us with an opportunity to innovate, experiment in record time, learn, create new solutions and accelerate the development of sustainable solutions that are of benefit to everyone.
WE RACE FOR CHANGE, TO IMPROVE THE WAY WE ALL MOVE
We go racing to drive circularity
Our insights generated by our Motorsport led circularity program will strengthen the Group’s expertise in end of life tyre material recovery, paving the way for their application across its entire tyre range.
We go racing in order to rise to new challenges.
Our tyres contain increasingly higher proportions of bio sourced and recycled raw materials(2). The advanced materials we develop in motorsport will go on to benefit all MICHELIN tyres from 2025.
We go racing to find answers, simulate, learn from data science and surpass ourselves.
Our use of simulation engineering in motorsport is in the process of being extended to tyre production, resulting in significant savings in resources and CO₂ emissions.
MEET THE TEAM AND DISCOVER HOW WE RACE FOR CHANGE
Dylan, tyre performance engineer
Philippe, tyre technician
Stéphanie, chemist
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LE MANS: OUR FAVOURITE ARENA FOR INNOVATION FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS
The Le Mans 24 Hours - which takes place on roads normally open to everyday traffic - submits our tyres to exceptional constraints, from the track's uneven surface, to sudden weather and temperature changes. Yet our tyres must deliver flawless, perfectly-balanced performance, as well as safety, grip and versatility from the race's start until the finish line!
Innovations that have changed mobility:
Demountable tyre 1923:
The winner of the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours was a Chenard & Walcker fitted with MICHELIN tyres. It completed the race at an average speed of 57mph. Removable tyres revolutionised mobility by combining resilience, long life, comfort and user-friendliness.
Radial tyre 1951:
Patented in 1946 and marketed from 1949, MICHELIN X tyres featured a revolutionary radial carcass incorporating metal belts for long-lasting safety, comfort and fuel economy. A Lancia B20 GT won its class on radial tyres at the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Slick tyre 1967:
Michelin was the first to race slick tyres at Le Mans. Their entirely smooth, pattern-free tread provided superior grip in dry conditions. Slicks made an immediate impact, with the Alpine A210 completing a lap in under four minutes for the first time in its class before going on to win the P1.6 classification.
High performance tyre 1978:
The Renault-Alpine A442B's victory at Le Mans in 1978 equipped with high-performance MICHELIN radial tyres underlined the technology's extraordinary value. The result was followed by success in Formula 1, providing additional evidence of the superiority of radial tyres and contributing to the technology becoming the industry norm worldwide.
Since 1923: Repeated innovations in favour of long-lasting performance
Technological developments like the progress made in power-plant technology, from petrol and diesel engines to hybrid power units, the introduction of disc brakes and increasingly sophisticated aerodynamics all posed fresh challenges for tyres. They needed to adapt to bigger constraints, including higher power outputs, loads and torque, while at the same time providing superior efficiency. Michelin’s winning record at Le Mans has matched the incredible revolution the race has seen in terms of performance. In the last 10 years alone, it has helped the headlining LMP1 prototypes to complete up to 466 miles on a single set of tyres at an average speed of 149mph. That’s equivalent to the more than the distance covered by two Formula 1 grands prix!
Le Mans 2024: we continue to innovate for a sustainable future
The latest MICHELIN Pilot Sport Endurance Slicks and Wets conceived for today's exciting Hypercar prototypes were designed entirely virtually using simulator technology. The process has now been extended to the development of mass-market tyres, resulting in significant resource and CO₂ emissions savings.
In 2024, we unveil a racing tyre that contains 71% renewable and recycled materials for the hydrogen prototype MissionH24 and the all-electric Porsche GT4 ePerformance. This achievement was made possible thanks to our knowledge of renewable or recycled materials in the context of tyres, with no detriment to either their performance or overall environmental impact.
Our tyres are designed to win
We are the tyre manufacturer with the most victories in the Major FIA and FIM World championships over the last 50 years.
MICHELIN, official MOTOGP™ class tyre
TRUST OUR TYRES ON TRACK OR ON ROAD
MICHELIN Motorsport range
Tyres for circuit, rally, hillclimbing, classic racing, off-road & circuit moto
Trust MICHELIN for a better life in motion
Taking action to reduce environmental impact
We lead the way towards mobility with reduced environmental impact(3) and innovate by investing in, around and beyond tyres.
Leading the way in electric mobility
We are at the forefront of electric mobility. Our engineers work closely with car, scooter & bike manufacturers to design tyres with performance that matter to electric vehicles owners.
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LEGAL MENTIONS
(2) For more information https://www.michelin.com/en/sustainable-development-mobility/working-towards-sustainable-mobility/










