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Michelin, Corvette, two automotive icons, to join forces
Companies' newest improvements to debut at North American auto show in Detroit
Published: Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Jenny Munro
BUSINESS WRITER, GREENVILLE NEWS
jmunro@greenvillenews.com
Michelin North America's C3M facility is producing new-technology run-flat tires that will be original equipment on the 2009 Corvette ZR1, according to a Michelin spokeswoman.
It will be the first time Greenville-based Michelin has supplied original equipment to Corvette sports cars, said Jan Skinner, Michelin North America vice president, global sales, passenger car and light truck tires, original equipment.
"The Corvette ZR1 is a historical breakthrough OE fitment for Michelin," said Tom Chubb, vice president, marketing for Michelin Automotive Industry Division. "When given the opportunity from GM, we knew we had to bring our best technology to the table and set a benchmark in the industry for performance."
While General Motors debuts its highest-performing production car, Michelin will debut the Pilot Sport PS2 zero-pressure tires. Both will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month.
Although the new tires will not result in an increase to Michelin's employee base, it will provide technology that can be used in other tires, Skinner said.
C3M is a facility where small runs of highly complex tires can be built.
"It allowed us to use sophisticated technology and equipment" to build the tires, she said.
For example, the equipment allows Michelin to place different tread on different parts of the tire -- something impossible in normal production.
Also, the facility's sophistication allowed a 24-hour turnaround. Michelin would produce a tire, it would be road tested, feedback from Corvette engineers would be received and within 24 hours, tires with the needed changes would be available.
"Niche tires" are the C3M's specialty, Skinner said.
The Corvette-Michelin partnership actually began in 2004 with a partner-team relationship in the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Michelin tires were on winning cars in 35 of 41 races in the GT1 Series.
The Corvette, due to be launched in the summer, will be powered by a new, supercharged 6.2L LS9 small-block V-8 engine.
The engine is targeted to produce 620 horsepower and 595 pound-foot of torque. The final certified power levels will be available in March.
"When you experience the LS9 in the Corvette ZR1, the terms performance and refinement take on new meaning," said Tom Stephens, group vice president for GM Powertrain and Quality.
The engine "demonstrates an outstanding performance range, with smooth driveability at low speeds and surprisingly fierce performance when the customer wants more power."
Michelin designed and built the Pilot Sports PS2 zero-pressure tire specifically for the Corvette.
The tires incorporate the newest Michelin run-flat technology and provide superior cornering grip, straight-line traction, ride, comfort, noise reduction and extended tread life, she said.
The tires, which draw on technology developed for racing tires, are designed to perform equally well on the street, highway and track as well as wet and dry surfaces.
Testing was undertaken on Germany's Nurburgring racetrack as well as other tracks, Skinner said.
The track, considered one of the most challenging in the world, is 14 twisting, curving miles of track with 172 corners.
Michelin's newest generation of zero-pressure tires includes two heavy-duty rayon carcasses to reinforce the ultra high-performance, zero-pressure sidewall inserts.
The tread's rubber compound is legal for street use but is "credible" for track use, Michelin said. It features tread blocks to provide a solid connection to the ground.
Skinner explained that the tires have relatively low tread, but the tread is deep enough to provide safety when driving on the streets or highways.
The tires, however, also should perform well on tracks. Professional racecar tires tend to be "slicks" with little or no tread.
"These are a nice blend of safety and credibility" on the racetrack, she said.
In addition to the Pilot Sport tires designed specifically for the Corvette ZR1, Michelin is expanding its new zero-pressure replacement tire sizes. Plans are for replacement sizes for the Corvette CF, C6 and C6 ZO6 to be available some time this year.
A definite date has not been set. Michelin North America, with its headquarters in Greenville, employs more than 22,500 workers and operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in 17 locations.
More than 8,000 of those employees are in South Carolina at facilities in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson County and Lexington.
Companies' newest improvements to debut at North American auto show in Detroit
Published: Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Jenny Munro
BUSINESS WRITER, GREENVILLE NEWS
jmunro@greenvillenews.com
Michelin North America's C3M facility is producing new-technology run-flat tires that will be original equipment on the 2009 Corvette ZR1, according to a Michelin spokeswoman.
It will be the first time Greenville-based Michelin has supplied original equipment to Corvette sports cars, said Jan Skinner, Michelin North America vice president, global sales, passenger car and light truck tires, original equipment.
"The Corvette ZR1 is a historical breakthrough OE fitment for Michelin," said Tom Chubb, vice president, marketing for Michelin Automotive Industry Division. "When given the opportunity from GM, we knew we had to bring our best technology to the table and set a benchmark in the industry for performance."
While General Motors debuts its highest-performing production car, Michelin will debut the Pilot Sport PS2 zero-pressure tires. Both will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month.
Although the new tires will not result in an increase to Michelin's employee base, it will provide technology that can be used in other tires, Skinner said.
C3M is a facility where small runs of highly complex tires can be built.
"It allowed us to use sophisticated technology and equipment" to build the tires, she said.
For example, the equipment allows Michelin to place different tread on different parts of the tire -- something impossible in normal production.
Also, the facility's sophistication allowed a 24-hour turnaround. Michelin would produce a tire, it would be road tested, feedback from Corvette engineers would be received and within 24 hours, tires with the needed changes would be available.
"Niche tires" are the C3M's specialty, Skinner said.
The Corvette-Michelin partnership actually began in 2004 with a partner-team relationship in the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Michelin tires were on winning cars in 35 of 41 races in the GT1 Series.
The Corvette, due to be launched in the summer, will be powered by a new, supercharged 6.2L LS9 small-block V-8 engine.
The engine is targeted to produce 620 horsepower and 595 pound-foot of torque. The final certified power levels will be available in March.
"When you experience the LS9 in the Corvette ZR1, the terms performance and refinement take on new meaning," said Tom Stephens, group vice president for GM Powertrain and Quality.
The engine "demonstrates an outstanding performance range, with smooth driveability at low speeds and surprisingly fierce performance when the customer wants more power."
Michelin designed and built the Pilot Sports PS2 zero-pressure tire specifically for the Corvette.
The tires incorporate the newest Michelin run-flat technology and provide superior cornering grip, straight-line traction, ride, comfort, noise reduction and extended tread life, she said.
The tires, which draw on technology developed for racing tires, are designed to perform equally well on the street, highway and track as well as wet and dry surfaces.
Testing was undertaken on Germany's Nurburgring racetrack as well as other tracks, Skinner said.
The track, considered one of the most challenging in the world, is 14 twisting, curving miles of track with 172 corners.
Michelin's newest generation of zero-pressure tires includes two heavy-duty rayon carcasses to reinforce the ultra high-performance, zero-pressure sidewall inserts.
The tread's rubber compound is legal for street use but is "credible" for track use, Michelin said. It features tread blocks to provide a solid connection to the ground.
Skinner explained that the tires have relatively low tread, but the tread is deep enough to provide safety when driving on the streets or highways.
The tires, however, also should perform well on tracks. Professional racecar tires tend to be "slicks" with little or no tread.
"These are a nice blend of safety and credibility" on the racetrack, she said.
In addition to the Pilot Sport tires designed specifically for the Corvette ZR1, Michelin is expanding its new zero-pressure replacement tire sizes. Plans are for replacement sizes for the Corvette CF, C6 and C6 ZO6 to be available some time this year.
A definite date has not been set. Michelin North America, with its headquarters in Greenville, employs more than 22,500 workers and operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in 17 locations.
More than 8,000 of those employees are in South Carolina at facilities in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson County and Lexington.
