Michelin unveils ‘next-gen’ aviation tire with reduced weight, extended life

Clermont-Ferrand, France — Michelin has unveiled a “next-generation” aviation tire offering lower weight and extended service life in what the French group described as a “new major milestone” in aircraft tire development.

The Air X Sky Light tire was presented during the rollout of Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X business jet, and was produced following “several years of development, testing, and high-level industrial collaboration,” said Michelin 11 March.

The tire features a “radically reengineered tire architecture” using advanced materials and new industrial processes aimed at reducing weight while maintaining durability and performance.

First unveiled publicly at the 2023 Paris Air Show, the tire is based on new radial technology that enables a 10–20% reduction in weight compared with previous generations, while delivering a 10–20% increase in service life, Michelin said.

According to Michelin, the weight reduction is particularly important in aviation, where “every kilogramme matters.”

The lighter tires, said the group, can help lower fuel consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and cut maintenance and transport costs.

The performance gains are achieved through “an optimised summit architecture and footprint,” combined with the use of “ultra-high-strength carcass materials” and “next-generation hybrid cords and fabrics.”

Since the tire’s initial presentation in 2023, Michelin said the design has undergone “extensive development work” to meet the aviation sector’s requirements, including high loads, very high speeds, and severe mechanical and thermal constraints.

Michelin said the new tire will serve as the basis for a broader product family planned for future commercial aviation applications, including both new aircraft programmes and retrofit installations on existing fleets.