Michelin has just released a new TV ad for the last MotoGP Grand Prix of the season in Valencia (Spain).

Through this commercial, Michelin wants to thank the teams and pilots who trusted the Group during the 36 years of Moto Grand Prix championships.
42 pilots, prior to this week-end last event, won one or more times riding on MICHELIN tires, giving the brand 360 victories in Premier Class category. The new TV spot will be broadcast 19 times on the sport channel Eurosport between October 24th and 27th, 2008.

Innovation requires finding solutions in areas that make conflicting, seemingly irreconcilable demands on product performance. In a tyre, it’s all about maintaining balance. In theory, improving performance in one area means making sacrifices in another. Refusing to accept that premise, Michelin develops technologies that make it possible to simultaneously improve performance in different areas. That’s the price of progress, which is meaningful only if advances are made across the board. And that’s what Michelin has achieved with the Anakee 2, a new tyre for the market’s top-performing adventure touring bikes.
 

The Michelin Pilot GT is the all-new tire for the Honda GL1500 Gold Wing, featuring the latest advances in rubber composition, carcass construction and profile. It delivers exceptional handling, maneuverability and mileage, without compromising wet or dry grip. Though the GL1500 is out of production, its tire sizes consistently rank among the top ten in unit sales. Capture a piece of this important market with the new Michelin Pilot GT.

• Four crossed plies in the front tire carcass provide excellent stability both in a straight line and while cornering
• Optimized tread thickness helps minimize shimmy both when the tire is new and at the end of its tread life
• Triangulated front profi le facilitates low-speed maneuverability
• Three crossed plies and two crown plies help make the rear carcass highly resistant to side loads
• Distinct rubber mixes for front and rear tires are optimized for durability, grip, and traction
• Bias Ply construction

Motorcycle Tires Under Extreme Load: A Look at the Physics of Grip

This text dives into the extreme stresses placed on motorcycle tires at high speeds, highlighting the impressive performance of these seemingly simple components.

Forces at Play:

• < 200 HP: The engine's immense power needs to be transferred to the road through the tire, posing a huge challenge for grip.
• < 270 km/h (168 mph): At this speed, the tire rotates 1.5 times per second and travels 4.5 km (2.8 miles) further than the front tire due to "spin" caused by slippage.
• Torque: The engine's gearing amplifies torque at the rear wheel, resulting in strong pulling force.
• 1450 Newtons: This immense force pushes the motorcycle and rider through the wind, with the tire providing the frictional force necessary for forward movement.
• 150 kg (330 lbs) Wheel Load: The motorcycle's weight rests on the tire, further increasing friction and wear.
• 4.5% Slip: At high speeds, some slippage is unavoidable, leading to heat generation and wear.
• 100 Degrees Celsius Rubber Temperature: Frictional heat can significantly raise the rubber temperature, affecting its properties and grip.
• 270 Newtons Centrifugal Force: The centrifugal force on each individual belt thread within the tire is enormous and can lead to structural damage.