Page 44 - Motoring World (January 2020)

EXPERIENCE

MICHELIN ENERGY XM2+

THE RIGHT A-TYRE

Michelin’s latest rubber seems to have

no trade-off. Too good to be true?

By Aadil Naik Photos Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala

Over the last decade, electronics mean for the Indian consumer. sets the tyre apart is its commitment
have contributed to quite an extent Michelin says the core principle to consistent performance over the
towards making automobiles safer. driving the development of this tyre life of the tyre. Michelin claims that
From traction control and electronic was safety. While traction control even an old tyre that has worn out
brake distribution to something as systems have become exponentially till its tread depth indicators will
simple as anti-lock braking systems, better, mechanical grip is still very outperform a competitor by far,
cars have — for the most part — obviously involved between tyres especially in the wet.
become idiot-proof. Which is why it and the tarmac, and this has been To prove that it wasn’t just
can be easy to forget that all of the improved through the use of a better talk, Michelin organised a visit
above interact with the road through silica compound. Aquaplaning is to a test facility where we could
the tyres alone. Rubber is the sole another problem that electronics experience this for ourselves. A pair
point of contact and it still relies can’t solve, which is why the water of identical Maruti Suzuki Swifts
on the core principles of physics. expulsion tread design is so crucial- were our guinea pigs, one with a
Which brings us to the new Michelin something the Energy XM2+ is very set of Michelin XM2+ tyres and the
Energy XM2+ tyres and what they good at. But the thing that really other with the closest competitor,

44 MOTORING WORLD | JANUARY 2020