Photo: Michelin (edited by autoevolution)
I have the privilege of being able to cover both the automotive and aerospace side of things here at autoevolution. As one of the few places on the web that gets to do both, one company we see popping up constantly on both sides of the aisle is Michelin. At times, that really gets us thinking. Exactly how much overlap between automotive and aerospace is there for a tire company that's an industry leader in both?
Of course, any engineer in either discipline could tell you the makeup between an automotive tire and an aircraft tire are worlds apart. But is there any intersection at all between the two? Luckily, I got to speak with someone who could help set the record straight. Her name is Amanda Murphy, and she's the Director of Global General Aviation at Michelin Aircraft. With her unrivaled skill at making complex engineering lingo make sense to normal folks, I was finally about to get my answer to my question about potential aerospace and automotive sector overlap.
"While specific parts of the organization are dedicated to specific products, there are cross-functional teams all around the world that work together to develop the best products and solutions possible to be implemented in each segment of the market," Murphy said of the working relationship between Michelin Aviation and Michelin's road vehicle operations. Innovation is one of the pillars of the Michelin brand across our segments, solutions, and networks, and every year, Michelin invests nearly $760 million in R&D. By creating more enjoyable, reliable, sustainable products and services, Michelin works to improve the quality of life in motion throughout the business and in the world.
Though the research and development teams for Michelin's automotive and aerospace branches are separate, this yearly investment supplies both sides with the funding to help its race tires find more grip as much as it helps airliners endure landing after brutal landing. With unique proprietary blends of rubber compound making up each tire, each model in the range, regardless of the application, is refined to the highest current standards. From both a performance and sustainability standpoint, this R&D does indeed trickle down to neighboring tire segments, as proper innovation tends to do in any multi-faced manufacturer.
"Michelin’s commitment to innovation is always at the forefront. This includes learning how different materials and processes affect the performance of the different products and sharing that knowledge across the product lines, Murphy said of the special relationship between the automotive and aerospace ends of the Michelin portfolio." Murphy remarked. "In addition, every factory, regardless of the product or location, is held to the same rigorous standards for safety, quality, and production and share the same core values of Michelin."
In the same way an OEM automaker shows off its latest and greatest models at various auto shows, so too does Michelin Aviation strut its stuff at the aeronautical equivalents around the world. Fresh off presenting their booth at the 2024 EAA Air Venture exposition in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Michelin once again showcased that R&D benefits all its operational sectors, just focused on the aviation side of things. At an even packed with dozens of industry heavyweights, Michelin's unveiling of an extension to the ubiquitous Pilot line of general aviation tires.
"Michelin was pleased to announce an extension of the Michelin Pilot tire line, which delivers up to 21% deeper skid depth than Goodyear’s Flight Custom III tire," Murphy said of Michelin's main attraction at EAA Air Venture this year. Though perhaps not the most eye-catching piece of tech on display in Oshkosh this year, there's a good chance the Michelin Pilot tire has more direct impact on the common pilot than anything else at the show. "The Michelin Pilot tire is designed to keep the product weight low by using thinner yet strong cords which give us the ability to increase the skid depth. We’ve designed this to deliver a tire with increased landings and durability."
From light to medium-weight civil aircraft, from piston engines to turboprops, single or twin-engine, with or without inner tubes, there are not many applications the Pilot series doesn't cover that don't involve jet engines or air-to-air missiles. But even beyond the Pilot series, the bounds of Michelin's R&D department aren't constrained by Earth's atmosphere. In the booming space sector spurred on by recent advancements of private enterprises, Michelin is nothing short of a major contributor.
"Michelin is very involved in the space program currently. 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 said of Michelin's presence in space. A vital yet hardly talked-about endevour for the European tire moguls.
"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 lunar wheel capable of withstanding extreme temperatures [above 100°C and below -240°C], solar and galactic radiation while preserving the rover's battery life and ensuring maximum traction on aggressive soft ground. The developments carried out as part of this project will enable Michelin to continue to innovate in land applications." So then, Michelin is just as adept at slapping tires on a Lunar Rover as it is a Le Mans racer.
We bet that's not the sales pitch you were expecting. But if nothing else, it only proves a tire company as large as Michelin has its hands in more pies than the average Parisian bakery can crank out in an afternoon. In a market segment more saturated than most with competition of varying quality, Michelin proves high quality beats quantity even more in civil aviation. Many thanks to Amanda and the Michelin aviation team for speaking with us. Check out our trip to the 2024 Michelin Sustainability Summit here if you want to learn more.
"While specific parts of the organization are dedicated to specific products, there are cross-functional teams all around the world that work together to develop the best products and solutions possible to be implemented in each segment of the market," Murphy said of the working relationship between Michelin Aviation and Michelin's road vehicle operations. Innovation is one of the pillars of the Michelin brand across our segments, solutions, and networks, and every year, Michelin invests nearly $760 million in R&D. By creating more enjoyable, reliable, sustainable products and services, Michelin works to improve the quality of life in motion throughout the business and in the world.
Though the research and development teams for Michelin's automotive and aerospace branches are separate, this yearly investment supplies both sides with the funding to help its race tires find more grip as much as it helps airliners endure landing after brutal landing. With unique proprietary blends of rubber compound making up each tire, each model in the range, regardless of the application, is refined to the highest current standards. From both a performance and sustainability standpoint, this R&D does indeed trickle down to neighboring tire segments, as proper innovation tends to do in any multi-faced manufacturer.
"Michelin’s commitment to innovation is always at the forefront. This includes learning how different materials and processes affect the performance of the different products and sharing that knowledge across the product lines, Murphy said of the special relationship between the automotive and aerospace ends of the Michelin portfolio." Murphy remarked. "In addition, every factory, regardless of the product or location, is held to the same rigorous standards for safety, quality, and production and share the same core values of Michelin."
In the same way an OEM automaker shows off its latest and greatest models at various auto shows, so too does Michelin Aviation strut its stuff at the aeronautical equivalents around the world. Fresh off presenting their booth at the 2024 EAA Air Venture exposition in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Michelin once again showcased that R&D benefits all its operational sectors, just focused on the aviation side of things. At an even packed with dozens of industry heavyweights, Michelin's unveiling of an extension to the ubiquitous Pilot line of general aviation tires.
"Michelin was pleased to announce an extension of the Michelin Pilot tire line, which delivers up to 21% deeper skid depth than Goodyear’s Flight Custom III tire," Murphy said of Michelin's main attraction at EAA Air Venture this year. Though perhaps not the most eye-catching piece of tech on display in Oshkosh this year, there's a good chance the Michelin Pilot tire has more direct impact on the common pilot than anything else at the show. "The Michelin Pilot tire is designed to keep the product weight low by using thinner yet strong cords which give us the ability to increase the skid depth. We’ve designed this to deliver a tire with increased landings and durability."
From light to medium-weight civil aircraft, from piston engines to turboprops, single or twin-engine, with or without inner tubes, there are not many applications the Pilot series doesn't cover that don't involve jet engines or air-to-air missiles. But even beyond the Pilot series, the bounds of Michelin's R&D department aren't constrained by Earth's atmosphere. In the booming space sector spurred on by recent advancements of private enterprises, Michelin is nothing short of a major contributor.
"Michelin is very involved in the space program currently. 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 said of Michelin's presence in space. A vital yet hardly talked-about endevour for the European tire moguls.
"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 lunar wheel capable of withstanding extreme temperatures [above 100°C and below -240°C], solar and galactic radiation while preserving the rover's battery life and ensuring maximum traction on aggressive soft ground. The developments carried out as part of this project will enable Michelin to continue to innovate in land applications." So then, Michelin is just as adept at slapping tires on a Lunar Rover as it is a Le Mans racer.
We bet that's not the sales pitch you were expecting. But if nothing else, it only proves a tire company as large as Michelin has its hands in more pies than the average Parisian bakery can crank out in an afternoon. In a market segment more saturated than most with competition of varying quality, Michelin proves high quality beats quantity even more in civil aviation. Many thanks to Amanda and the Michelin aviation team for speaking with us. Check out our trip to the 2024 Michelin Sustainability Summit here if you want to learn more.
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