GSA Daily Staff Report
Published May 21, 2010

Have Michelin-rated chefs made an impact on tire design? It may be the perfect collaboration as Michelin uses sunflower oil to create a unique rubber compound in the new Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire.

It turns out that sunflower oil, used in the patented Michelin Helio Compound technology, allows this new luxury performance tire to maintain its edge in wet and snowy weather.

While the vibrant, strong sunflower is recognized worldwide for its beauty, its benefits are not as apparent. The oil from sunflowers is a valued and healthy vegetable oil and sunflower seeds are enjoyed as a healthy, tasty snack and nutritious ingredient to many foods.

So, why would Michelin tire engineers turn to this readily available, but unusual ingredient as a solution for tire performance?

Because shorter is better, and with the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire the use of sunflower oil means stopping up to two car lengths shorter, or up to 19 feet shorter in wet conditions, than a leading competitor, the company said.

"Sometimes you don't have to look further than your own kitchen to find a viable, technical solution," said Dominique Josson, product category manager. "Sunflower oil is particularly useful in high-performance, all-season tires because it allows the tire to maintain winter performance that might otherwise be sacrificed to gain handling and wet grip."

Currently, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tire has seven original equipment fitments on the road for Mercedes-Benz, Infinity and Buick. Available to consumers in North America July 1, the tire will offer 13 replacement market sizes with rim diameters ranging from 16- to 19-inch.