The tires of the French Michelin company more than once helped to win the Formula 1 racing cars. The brand offers no less high-quality rubber to ordinary cars. One of the options for winter "shoes" is Michelin X-Ice 3. Reviews of this rubber model and its characteristics are discussed in more detail in the article.
Manufacturer Information
The official date of foundation of one of the most famous companies for the production of tires for Michelin cars is 1888. Its founders - brothers Edward and Andre Michelin - gained fame for creating “quiet” brake pads for bicycles. After a few years, it came to replaceable tires, thanks to which cyclists no longer fear rubber punctures.
The world-famous brand brought not only the introduction of innovative ideas, but also the use of the original logo - Bibendum. The mountain of tires and the rich imagination of one of the founding brothers helped create a recognizable advertising character. Initially, he advertised tires for bicycles and fiacres. The latter were strollers moving with the help of horses. The Michelin brothers knew that this type of transport would quickly lose their relevance, and timely adapted their pneumatic tires to a car.
To date, the largest production facilities of the company are located in France, Italy, Austria, Greece, Russia, Azerbaijan, Spain. The brand products are also successfully produced in the USA, Turkmenistan, Japan.
Michelin lineup
The range of tires from the French manufacturer includes hundreds of models, which undoubtedly complicates the choice. At the same time, drivers may not worry about the quality of the products offered. High performance characteristics have models of summer, all-weather and winter wheels.
The most popular winter models include:
- Michelin X-Ice North 3 - the winter version of the "studding" has received many accolades from car owners.
- Michelin Alpin A4 - “Velcro” for winter driving is recognized by many drivers as one of the best.
- Michelin Latitude X-Ice North 2+ - a model of winter tires specifically designed for the CIS market and the countries of Scandinavia.
- Michelin X-Ice 3 XL - winter tires for heavy SUVs. They have good maneuverability and softness.
- Michelin Latitude X-Ice 2 is the ideal friction rubber for harsh winters.
All-season and summer tires for cars, crossovers and SUVs are presented in such Michelin lineups as Cross Terrain, CrossClimate, Energy, Pilot, Primacy, Weatherwise.
Michelin X-Ice 3: test
Motorists approach the choice of winter tires very responsibly, studying the test results and listening to the reviews of friends. Some drivers "feel" the road in winter only when riding on "spikes", while others prefer to ride on friction rubber. The latter option is the most common among domestic and foreign drivers.
Michelin, the French rubber giant, offers a wide selection of wheels for harsh and mild winters. The sensational novelty of 2012 is the Michelin X-Ice 3 tires. The ideal tires for urban driving received from the manufacturer high performance, which subsequently confirmed numerous tests.
The creators of the product promise the driver the maximum level of safety on snowy and icy surfaces. Indeed, on snow sprinkled with snow, snow porridge and already packed snow, it is possible to maintain controllability of the car, "shod" in Michelin X-Ice 3.
As a result of testing winter tires, the Michelin X-Ice 3 model received third place and lost only 0.2 points to the leader. Rubber received such a high praise for the confident behavior of the car at various stages of the test. The Velcro easily passed the snowy track, wet and dry road surface. Good adhesion showed tires and when driving on ice. However, rubber has a long braking distance on dry and wet asphalt. This slightly reduced the final rating of tires.
Tread
One of the most important parameters when choosing rubber is the tread pattern. What did the developers award the Michelin X-Ice 3 model? Expert reviews say that the increased number of blocks surrounded by sharp edges allows you to overcome the most snow-covered sections of the road.
The tread has received a symmetrical pattern, which is part of another innovative Micro-Pump technology. Micropumps in the form of large-radius holes located on the side of the tread block effectively clean the contact spot from moisture and remove snow melt.
Main characteristics
The previous X-Ice 2 model was no less successful than its updated version. At the same time, the manufacturer made sure that X-Ice 3 acquired improved features. Reviews about the Michelin X-Ice 3, which can be heard from experts, suggest that this rubber combines the latest innovative developments in the field of tire production.
Cross Z technology has improved vehicle handling thanks to lamellas located at specially designed angles. Cross zigzag lamellas increased the stability of the shoulder blocks and tread pattern, provided excellent grip on the road.
The excellent properties of the hitch also made it possible to achieve Block Edge, which allows to maintain controllability under any extreme conditions, both on an icy and snowy road.
FleX-Ice rubber compound, consisting predominantly of silica fibers, allows to reduce the braking distance on the road surface of any quality. Car control is felt even when the air temperature rises.
Even with 50% wear, the performance properties of tires will remain at the level of new rubber due to the deep cutting of lamellas.
Reviews
Car owners who decided to “shod” their “iron horse” in Michelin X-Ice 3 tires leave very different reviews about this model. Most drivers were satisfied with the quality and performance of tires from the French brand. Tires behave well on a snowy road surface, maintain confident vehicle handling on ice. Velcro begins to show all its abilities at temperatures below -5 ° C.
Do not compare this model with studded tires. On ice Michelin X-Ice 3 will behave somewhat worse only at high speeds. At the same time, she is easily given icy slides and ruts.
Another advantage of Michelin X-Ice 3 tires is the price. A set of Velcro will cost car owners 13,800 rubles (175/65 R14). The cost of rubber will increase depending on the size.
Popular Michelin Spike
Rubber Michelin X-Ice North 3 has a huge number of adherents from domestic car owners. The model has been produced since 2013 and is suitable for cars and small crossovers.
Compared with previous generations, X-Ice North 3 received fewer spikes, which, oddly enough, did not increase the braking distance and did not affect the properties of the road coupling. In addition, the manufacturer was able to prove that the new type of studs allowed to reduce the damage to the road surface.
Description of the third generation of tires
What does Michelin offer in this updated tire model? Winter studded tires received a slight change in the direction of the drainage channels. The developers also used the “smart spike” technology to create the model in question. It implies a change in the shape of the spike to a conical and an increase in its base. This has increased the life of the tires.
The smart cleat system provides for the use of a layer of thermoactive rubber, which is located in the cleat area. As the air temperature decreases, the rubber compound layer becomes more rigid, which allows the studs themselves to put more pressure on the coating. As the temperature rises, the rubber becomes softer and the spikes “hide” inward, which avoids damage to the road surface and increases the duration of the spikes themselves. Around this element there is a circular groove providing quick removal of crushed ice and snow crumbs.
Wear resistance
IRONFlex technology is a proprietary development of the company. Thanks to the introduction of steel threads into the frame structure, it was possible to increase strength. Also, the technology involves the creation of a special structure of the sidewalls, which are able to quickly dissipate a large load on the surface of the tire. By the way, a similar innovation is used in the Michelin X-Ice 3 model.
Spike tests have shown that reducing the number of steel teeth can only be beneficial. The manufacturer at the same time took care of maintaining the integrity of the road surface, driver safety in all weather conditions and increasing the life of the rubber. Optimization of the geometry of the drainage grooves made it possible to reduce the effect of aquaplaning by facilitating snow removal.
Rubber proved to be quite soft and quiet compared to similar products from other manufacturers.
What do car owners say?
For operation in regions with a harsh winter, this model of "studding" from the French company Michelin is considered one of the most ideal.
Rubber allows you to confidently drive the car on icy, rolled snow, to rebuild through the ruts. The reduced number of spikes allows you to increase the contact spot on a dry road surface and keep all the spikes in place.
Studded or friction rubber?
What to choose - "spikes" Michelin X-Ice North 3 or Velcro Michelin X-Ice 3? Reviews say that for regions with severe, snowy and cold winters, tires equipped with "steel teeth" are more suitable. Shipovka will allow you to drive confidently both on ice and on dry pavement. The updated shoulder zone in this model has a positive effect on driving when hit in a rut or snowdrifts. For places where winters are mild and warm, Velcro from Michelin will do.
The price of rubber from a French brand is acceptable. So, the average cost of one studded tire X-Ice North 3 starts from 3330 rubles.