Michelin is a French tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France and is the second largest premium tyre manufacturer in the world. The company is known by both motorists and food lovers for their high quality tyres and Michelin Guide.They also have the most recognisable corporate mascot in the world.
Michelin tyres are known for using some of the most advanced technological solutions. Each Michelin tyre model offers the highest level of performance and technology. A good example of this is the Michelin CrossClimate — the first winter-approved summer tyre. Of course, the company also has an extensive range of and all season tyres.
The brand is also famous for issuing travel guides and awarding the best restaurants in the world with its mark of quality — the Michelin Star. It was André Michelin himself who came up with the idea.
The Michelin Guides are a series of guide books published by the brand for more than a century. The term refers to the yearly edition of the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest European hotel and restaurant guide, which gives up to three Michelin stars for excellence to chosen establishments. Michelin also publishes a series of general city, region, and country guides called the Green Guides.
The history of Michelin tyres
Michelin is not just one of the most innovative tyre manufacturers, but also one of the oldest. It was founded by brothers André and Édouard in 1889. In 1934, the tyre company introduced a model which, if punctured, could run on a special foam lining, a design now known as a run-flat tyre.
In 1946, Michelin developed and patented a key innovation in tyre history, the radial tyre (which was initially marketed as the "X" tyre), becoming one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers.
The first poster depicting Bibendum, the brand’s symbol, was created in 1898 by the artist Marius Rossillon. The famous Michelin Man in the year 2000 won the title of best logo of all time.
Michelin tyres in motorsports
Michelin tyres have won plenty of awards in tests conducted by some of the biggest automotive magazines and have also got extremely positive feedback from drivers. The quality of Michelin tyres is also demonstrated by their countless victories in motorsport rallies and races, including Formula 1, WRC, 24 Hours of Le Mans, MotoGP and cross-country cycling.
Michelin was the first to introduce radial construction to MotoGP in the 80’s and multi-compound tyres in the 90’s. From 1993 to 2006, all world championships had gone to a driver with Michelin tyres. All in all they’ve had 360 victories in 36 years.
See other producers:
Bridgestone
Pirelli
Dunlop