Exclusive Q&A: What makes a Michelin marked tyre?

Ever wondered how bespoke, brand-marked tyres are made? From ultra-specialised designs to extreme high-speed testing, Michelin’s Mike Meredith explains everything you need to know about the world of custom rubber.

While Michelin’s off-the-shelf tyre range is designed to deliver exceptional performance and versatility for a vast range of vehicles, conditions, and driving styles, sometimes a more specialised product is needed. 

Created in close collaboration with auto manufacturers, Michelin marked tyres are fine-tuned to excel with certain car models. These are denoted by coded stamps on a tyre’s sidewall — A0 for Audi, T0 for Tesla, and so on.  And, while some briefs are more straightforward — like improving fuel efficiency or decreasing road noise — others, like Bugatti’s 300-mph BG-marked CUP 2, are considerably more challenging to execute. 

So how does the world’s largest tyre manufacturer engineer rubber for some of the most exclusive motors on the planet? Mike Meredith has the answers. 

Q. When did marked tyres first appear? 

A. “The first car manufacturer to homologate tyres was Porsche. They began this practice in the 1980s, working closely with tyre manufacturers to develop tyres that met their specific performance requirements. Michelin has been involved with Porsche since 1969 and our partnership continues to this day. Marked or homologated tyres started to become more common in the early 2000s and today there are more car manufacturers than ever requesting marked tyres.” 

Q. Which car/tyre traits do manufacturers look to accentuate? 

A. “Sometimes a car maker will place emphasis on a specific performance area like rolling resistance, as this could help meet overall CO2 emissions — or, in the case of an EV, vehicle battery range. A focus on handling and braking performance are also common requests.” 

Q. What are the challenges of developing a marked tyre?  

A. “The technological challenges for developing tyres can be considerable. It’s not easy to improve in one key performance area without comprising another. Every car model has its own specific characteristics. Its weight, power, and engine configuration all have a direct impact on tyre choice, so car manufacturers demand tyres that are developed to take these considerations into account.” 

Q. What does testing entail for each model? How long does it take?  

A. “No two approvals are the same. The process can take many months. It starts with a brief and discussions between the car maker and Michelin’s OE (Original Equipment) team. It’s then very much a hands-on approach with sets of prototype tyres being designed, made, fitted and tested. Evaluation provides feedback for changes to create the next test set, with further testing undertaken, fine tuning, and the cycle repeated until the desired outcome is achieved. The approved tyre is then signed off for production.

As you might expect, the whole process represents a significant investment in time and resources. The car testing is undertaken by experts from both the car maker and the manufacturer, and will often involve testing and development at the car maker’s test ground and Michelin’s dedicated Ladoux tyre test facility in France. While an engineer will also consider suspension, brakes, and other components, they will draw heavily on the expertise of Michelin’s test drivers as the experts when it comes to evaluating tyre performance.”

Q. How much does a marked tyre differ from the standard model it’s based on?   

A. “Marked tyres can differ quite significantly. The changes made can involve specific tyre technologies as well as the tyre compound and tyre structure, including the tread pattern. In back-to back tests between OE marked tyres and non-marked, the differences in performance can be very apparent. Marked tyres are the result of a specific demand expressed by individual car manufacturers. They indicate that careful attention has been paid to the tyre and model package in order to deliver the level of performance owners expect. For these reasons, Michelin supports the car maker’s marked tyre recommendation where available.” 

Q. Michelin famously developed custom tyres for the original Bugatti Veyron, can you tell us about some equally challenging marked projects? 

A. “In designing rubber which could withstand the Veyron’s immense 1000 bhp and 253-mph top speed, Michelin pushed the boundaries of tyre technology back in 2005. But our marked tyres have gone even faster since. 

A recent example is the Bugatti-marked Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre which helped the W16 Mistral set a new world speed record for a roofless vehicle. Clocking an incredible top speed of 282 mph at the Papenburg circuit in Germany on November 9, 2024, the Mistral’s Michelin tyres were specially designed to optimise grip and stability at high speeds.”

Conclusion

Whether they bear an N, T, K or even the exotic BG stamp, Michelin’s marked tyres are tailor-made for each car model to deliver exceptional performance. So, if you’re chasing lap times, or simply looking for a quieter ride, make sure you choose the correct marked tyres for your vehicle. 

Hero image credit: Bugatti