We are all familiar with the rolling noise we hear during our road trips, no matter the distance. This background humming inside the cabin can quickly become tiring for both passengers and the driver, especially on long journeys.
This noise is even more noticeable inside electric vehicles, since electric motors produce almost no sound compared to their combustion counterparts.
To address this problem, Michelin developed its Acoustic Technology. Blackcircles Canada, your online tire specialist in Canada, reveals everything you need to know about Michelin’s Acoustic Technology below.
Where does the rolling noise inside the cabin come from?
To fully understand how Michelin’s Acoustic Technology works, we must first explain the origin of this noise.
It is not the tires themselves that cause the sound heard in the cabin. It is the road surface striking the tread that generates vibrations. The magnitude of these vibrations depends on the quality of the road surface, the vehicle’s speed, and the type of vehicle.
The rolling noise occurs because the tire amplifies the sound of these vibrations, as it is essentially a hollow envelope filled with compressed air. This amplified noise is then transmitted inside the vehicle.
This is especially unpleasant in electric vehicles, as it becomes more noticeable without the engine noise to mask it.
Two specific Michelin technologies for quieter tires
To tackle the problem, Michelin found a solution: a specially designed polyurethane foam layer bonded inside the tire, beneath the tread.
This reduces resonance and, therefore, dampens vibrations. The result is less fatigue caused by rolling noise for both the driver and the passengers, with a noise reduction inside the cabin of around 20%. This technological solution can even reduce interior noise as road surfaces change—showing just how effective it is.
However, this is not the only solution within Michelin’s Acoustic Technology to reduce tire noise. The manufacturer with the Bibendum logo also discovered that when tread blocks are all the same width, they create a frequency as they roll.
And where there is frequency, there is noise. To prevent this, Michelin ensures that tread blocks are not all the same width, while maintaining identical tire performance. That’s the Michelin difference!
A whole range of tires with Acoustic Technology
Michelin studies the frequencies—and therefore the rolling noise—of each vehicle for which this type of tire is available. This leads Michelin to collaborate with car manufacturers to develop tailored solutions for their vehicles.
This means that Michelin tires with Acoustic Technology are designed exclusively as original equipment, mounted directly at the factory so you can benefit from optimal noise reduction as soon as you purchase your vehicle.
However, you can also buy Michelin tires with Acoustic Technology directly from Blackcircles Canada. Among the product lines available, you’ll find the Michelin Primacy MXM4, which offers the quietest ride in its category, or the Michelin Primacy Tour A/S. Electric vehicles are, of course, not left out, with the Michelin Pilot Sport EV range—an industry benchmark that delivers lasting control.
Now you know everything that makes this technology a cutting-edge innovation that sets Michelin apart from other tire manufacturers. For your next set of Michelin tires equipped with the Acoustic Technology, shop them at the best price directly on the Blackcircles Canada website!
