Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
MICHELIN Philippines recently introduced the new Primacy SUV tire, which will cater the growing number of the popular sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment in the country. Nowadays drivers heavily rely on critical safety features available with their SUVs, such as air bags, antilock braking system (ABS) and traction control, to name a few, but in most cases, they overlook the critical role of tires. Not only that these rubbers considered being the most important component, but it is every car’s only contact with the road, subjected to numerous beatings from different conditions.
The Michelin Primacy SUV tire is solely intended for the said car models and was developed to withstand the extreme road and weather conditions, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Offering maximum safety, confidence and tranquility for drivers and their families are the primary objectives of Michelin.
“We have listened to SUV drivers in our region. They choose their vehicles because they want more safety for themselves and their family on their daily commute, as well as during long distance travel,” Michelin Philippine chief representative Michael Nunag said.
“SUVs are larger, more robust vehicles, they offer better visibility and more space, but they can at times be more difficult to handle and stop, especially on wet roads. The Michelin Primacy SUV tire was developed to address these needs, and provide maximum safety, as well as protection for both the driver and passengers,” he added.
Bearing the “Michelin Total Performance” mark, the new tire offers significant-protection improvements achieved through several Michelin technologies. Braking distance was dramatically reduced to 2.2 meters on wet roads, while tests on dry situations registered 1.9 meter shorter. The new FlexMax 2.0 rubber compound and StabiliGrip sipe design were the main factors for optimized tread pattern intended for better wet grip. Consequently, a total of 6-percent improvement was attained in drenched cornering and resistant to lateral slipping, which is 10 percent more compared to its premium leading competitor.
The High Sipe Density breaks the water films, while the wide and deep main grooves (vertical and horizontal) create high-efficiency water evacuation. This allows the tire to effectively slice through water puddles that allows more flow for better performance.
Moreover, the new tire is equipped with self-locking knobs inside the small channels to minimize deformation, improve handling and braking in dry circumstances. As for the smooth and comfortable ride, the rubber absorbs path flaws, thanks to the blended CushionGuard and EvenPeak technologies.
When the new tires were finally presented during the launch, members of the media were able to further scrutinize the physical dimension of the product and witnessed the actual built with evident advancements in the tread patterns. Clearly, Michelin is committed to deliver safer and smoother ride without compromising other performance characteristics, such as tread life and fuel consumption.
The new Michelin Primacy SUV tire is recommended for popular SUVs, such as the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero, Mitsubishi Pajero, Isuzu mu-X, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Honda CRV and Nissan X-Trail among others. The new tire is now available in all Michelin authorized dealers nationwide.