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March 09, 2017 01:00 AM

Michelin relaunches Defender line

Tire Business Report
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    Michelin North America Inc.
    Michelin has updated its Defender tire, which was first launched in 2012. The tire maker anticipates offering the new Defender tire in 32 sizes by the end of the year.

    GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin North America Inc. is relaunching its Defender line of passenger tires—on the market since 2012—with an H speed rating and a new tread compound designed to deliver more consistent treadwear.

    Launched four years ago to replace the HydroEdge and Harmony lines, the Defender is targeted at owners of some of the most popular sedans and minvans on the market, including the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Focus, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Altima and Toyota Sienna, Michelin said.

    "We know that many consumers make tire-purchasing decisions based on warranty and price, but tire warranties, unfortunately, do not always accurately reflect the actual wear performance of a tire," said Scott Clark, chief operating officer, Michelin North America.

    "Our testing shows that specific tires from several leading competitors with mileage warranties between 80,000 to 90,000 miles will have a difficult time delivering the wear-life proclaimed by their mileage warranty."

    Michelin will back the revised Defender with an 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, which is down from the 90,000-mile warranty available on the tire four years ago.

    The tire maker said it has revised the warranty to reflect a "wide variance" in treadwear due to the range of driving variables such as driver style and behavior, vehicle type/weight/horsepower, geography, temperature, road surface and road terrain. Michelin said the new warranty is a more realistic reflection of real-world conditions, and cited independent research that shows the Defender outlasts many of its competitors in the marketplace with 90,000-mile warranties.

    The revised Defender also features:

    • Maxtouch Construction, which Michelin said ensures that tire contact forces are evenly distributed to maximize tire life;
    • Evertread Compund, which the tire maker said is designed to provide exceptional durability for improved tread life;
    • Intellisipe Technology, designed to maximize the tire's biting edges for optimum all-season traction, while rain grooves evacuate water in wet conditions to prevent hydroplaning, Michelin said; and
    • Comfort Control Technology, which Michelin said works to minimize noise and provide a smoother, quieter ride.

    The new Defender tire is being offered in just 12 sizes, ranging from 205/60/R16 92H to 215/55R18 95H, but Michelin plans to add 20 more sizes before year-end. The 32 sizes will represent 83 percent coverage of the targeted vehicle demographic, the firm said.

    The suggested MSRP will start at $115 for a 14-inch size (not yet available) and range up to $210 for the 18-inch size.

    The new Defender also complements the Defender LTX M/S introduced in 2015 for light trucks and SUVs.

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