MICHELIN – Tyres at SIP Scootershop
MICHELIN – Tyres at SIP Scootershop
MICHELIN – For more than 130 years, the French manufacturer has been developing tyres, services and solutions to improve mobility in a sustainable way. Its newly developed technologies, in particular, make its tyres unique and ensure excellent handling. Add to that their cool look, and MICHELIN delivers perfect products.
Safe cornering thanks to Progressive Sipe Technology (PST)
Durability and better grip with Two Compound Technology (2CT)
Further development based on the hypersport motorbike tyre
Top performance for classic, sports and off-road bikes
MICHELIN – History
The first two-wheeler to arrive at Michelin in 1891 was being pulled by oxen – such was the owner’s exhaustion after trying in vain to repair a puncture. Edouard Michelin spent a day and a night repairing the tyres. In the process, he realised the comfort that pneumatic tyres brought to the two-wheeler – the discovery that started it all. That very same year, he patented his invention and, together with his brother André, entered the rubber tyre business.
Success in motorbike racing soon followed. In 1899, MICHELIN won several races: Nice–Castellane, Paris–Roubaix, the Critérium des motocycles and the Coupe des motocycles.
After the Second World War, scooters became increasingly popular, and MICHELIN developed tyres for two-wheelers with 50 cm³ engines. In 1993, MICHELIN unveiled two tyres for the new generation of scooters at the ‘Mondial du Deux-Roues’ motorbike trade fair: the ‘MICHELIN Reggae’ and the ‘MICHELIN Dexter’.
Among other things, the invention of the radial tyre was a milestone in the company’s history. When Jody Schlecker won the Formula 1 championship in 1979 in his Ferrari fitted with MICHELIN tyres, the company had reached the very top with its successes in motor sport. Further triumphs followed, and in the 1980s even the American space shuttles landed on tyres from Clermont-Ferrand. The company also made a name for itself through road maps and navigation systems, as well as the famous “Guide Michelin” with its hotel and restaurant recommendations.
For several years now, MICHELIN has made sustainability a priority through its ‘Strategy 2048’ and is conscious of its responsibility towards people and the environment. The aim is for 80 per cent of tyres to be manufactured using sustainable materials and for all tyres from its own production to be recycled. And, in partnership with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), MICHELIN is planning the sustainable management of rubber plantations to prevent further deforestation of tropical rainforests.
“At MICHELIN, the name speaks for itself. It’s no coincidence that the Piaggio Group chose this manufacturer as its original equipment supplier. With the City Grip 2, they have designed an excellent tyre for all weather conditions, and its high mileage also speaks in its favour.”
– Nico Gnisci, 7-time DBM champion
In doing so, MICHELIN has remained true to the vision of its two founders, Edouard and André Michelin, for more than 130 years. Their idea was to make mobility as simple, safe, comfortable and sustainable as possible.
Even today, MICHELIN is headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where the Michelin brothers founded their Tyre dynasty. The company now has 67 production sites across 17 countries, around 127,000 employees, a sales presence in 170 countries, and manufactured 200 million Tyres in 2018 alone. MICHELIN also has branches in Germany: There are plants in Karlsruhe, Homburg, Bad Kreuznach, Hallstadt and Trier, employing approximately 5,400 people. In 2020, MICHELIN invested 700 million euros in research and development and is equipping its premium products with the latest technologies.
MICHELIN – Bibendum: More than just a brand logo
‘Bibendum’ is the actual name of the Michelin Man. For the company, he is more than just a brand logo and is closely linked to the history of MICHELIN. Standing in front of a pile of tyres at a trade fair stand, the company’s founders, André and Edouard Michelin, recognised the figure of a giant man. In 1898, the Michelin Man first took shape on an advertising Poster by the illustrator Marius Rossillon, alias O’Galop. The Poster’s title was ‘Nunc est bibendum’.
The reason why the Roman toast ‘Now let us drink’ gives the Poster its title and the Michelin Man his name is revealed in the subheading: ‘Cheers! The Michelin tyre swallows the obstacle!’ (in the original: ‘À votre Santé. Le pneu Michelin boit l’obstacle!’)
This refers to shards of glass and nails – a common sight on the dusty roads at the turn of the century – which the Michelin Man swallows with relish and without any trouble. He finally made his life-size public debut at the MICHELIN stand at the first Paris Motor Show.
In 2000, a jury of 22 designers, advertising agencies, executives and marketing specialists voted the Michelin Bibendum the best logo in history. The competition was organised by the Financial Times and the Canadian Magazine Report on Business.
“What I value about SIP is the collaborative partnership and, in particular, the expertise, quality and service that the company stands for. Furthermore, our relationship has existed since the early years of SIP Scootershop – characterised both by business success and by the friendly rapport between us.”
– Ottmar Klein, Account Manager at Michelin
The most popular MICHELIN tyres at SIP Scootershop.
MICHELIN has a long history with scooter tyres. The S1 and the S83 are classics. The long experience in racing also benefits the modern scooter tyres of the French manufacturer. Various technologies developed by MICHELIN are used:
The 2CT Dual Compound Technology, used for example in the Power Pure SC, was developed in 2005 and successfully combines two opposites: A harder rubber compound is used at the centre of the tyre. This not only increases the life of the tyre, but also its resistance. At the tyre shoulders, on the other hand, the compound is softer and provides exceptional grip in the curves.
With the City Grip series, in turn, MICHELIN developed the first scooter tyres with the so-called Progressive Sipe Technology (PST) in 2010: continuous sipes break up the surface of the water film - no matter how worn the tread is. And thanks to the increased number of sipes on the tyre shoulders, safe cornering becomes child's play. Well-known manufacturers, such as Yamaha, Peugeot, Piaggio or Vespa, have been equipping their scooters with MICHELIN City Grip 2 as original equipment for several years.
MICHELIN stands for safety, driving pleasure and balanced performance characteristics and offers the right tyre for almost every application and every vehicle - from classic to modern.
These tyres are very popular at SIP Scootershop:
S83 - Adapted safety and grip for retro scooters.
S1 - Performance and design, for long life and excellent riding characteristics.
ACS - For classic city scooters with small displacement. Good value for money.
City Grip - The first scooter tyre with PST sipe technology.
Power Pure SC - Great performance and best looks thanks to 2CT technology.
For more information on tyres, visit our tyre technology blog.
