2015/2016 FIA Formula E Championship - Round 5 - Mexico

The Mexico City ePrix saw the MICHELIN Pilot Spot EVrise successfully to the very differentchallenge of competing around a permanent circuit, instead of at a temporary city-centre facility, as has been the case since the inaugural Formula E race in Beijing, in September 2014.
Previous venues have ranged from street tracks to public parks (as in London) and airfield runways (Berlin), but Mexico City chose the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguezand in the infield of a baseball stadium to stage its round of the FIA Formula E Championship.

Although the competition’s all-electric cars and their Michelin tyres have been tested previously at conventional tracks like Donington, England, and Issoire, France,purpose built circuits are very different to street circuits, notably in terms of the grip they provide, as well as the abrasiveness and dirtiness of the surface. For example, the exhaust fumes of ordinary traffic leave grimy deposits on city streets which are also covered in painted road signs, or crossed by tramlines. Permanent tracks have other hallmark characteristics.

“Until now, Formula E has tended to race along streets where thousands upon thousandsof vehicles are driven every day,” notes Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin’s Formula E programme. “In Mexico City, we were faced with an initially ‘green’, partially soiled track which took some time before it delivered maximum grip.Also, the temperature was initially quite cool in the morning before climbing very quickly.There were steady improvements in lap times as the surface started to rubber up during the free practice sessions.”

For example, Sébastien Buemi (Renault-e.dams) topped the timesheets in the two free practice sessions and improved his times by more than three seconds between mid-morning and the end of Free Practice 1 to set the benchmark at 1m3.341s.The other drivers improved to varying degrees, too, to illustrate the evolving conditions.

As lap times tumbled, any lingering doubts concerning the tyres’ ability to deliver around a race track were soon dissipated. “This was effectively unknown territory for us because we needed to take account changes in grip in places, as well as changes in the type of asphalt,” added Serge Grisin. “We were confident, though, thanks on the one hand to Michelin Motorsport’s experience of circuit racing and, on the other, because of the versatility the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV has shown in the Formula E Championship to date. It performed impeccably in Mexico City and the way it evolved matched our predictions. Today, I think we can say that whatever the weather or surface type, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV is a match for all types of conditions, with no detriment to either wear or performance.”

The Mexico City ePrix was won by Jérôme D’Ambrosio (Dragon Racing), ahead of Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) and Nicolas Prost (Renault-e.dams).

The next round of the 2015/2016 FIA Formula E Championship will take teams to Long Beach, California, USA, on April 2, ahead of the inaugural ePrix in Paris, France, on April 23.

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The mission of Michelin, leader of the tyre industry, is to contribute to the long-term mobility of people and assets. In this respect, the Group manufactures and sells tyres for all types of vehicles, ranging from planes to cars, not forgetting bikes and motorcycles, civil engineering and farming machinery as well as trucks. Michelin canals offer digital services to assist with mobility (ViaMichelin.com), and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. The Group, headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand (France), ispresent in over 170 countries, employs 111,200 people worldwide, and has 67 production sites in 17 different countries. The Group has a technology centre responsible for research and development located in Europe, North America, and Asia. (www.michelin.com.ph)

*This is Press Release

Tell-tale signs your car tires need changing

SAFETY. Nothing is more important for motorists than this. Car tires play a big part in road safety, so they must always be in tip-top condition.Before hitting the road, makesure that tiresare inflated with the correct air pressure. Check that they are not damaged or defective in any way before the car leaves the garage.

Michelin shares how to identifya few tell-tale signs that will tell you it’s time to change your tires:

1.      Tire Puncture.If you see even just one puncture in any part of the tire, install the spare tire to avoid causing further damage to the punctured one. Bring the suspected damaged tire immediately to a professional tire specialist for an accuratetire diagnosis.Running on punctured tiresis very risky especially if you’re already on the road as this can cause the tire pressure to drop rapidly. So, make sure that your spare tire is always in good condition to ensure safe motoring.

2.      Worn tire treads.Tire treadsare like the soles of the feet.They are the only contact that the vehicle makes with the road. The deeper the tread, the better resistance to aquaplaning. Michelin recommends changingtires before your tread depth is worn to 1.6mm. (MICHELIN tires have a tread wear indicator at the base of the grooves that help you check the correct depth of the tire tread.) Don’t risk the chance of careening on the highway due to lack of tire traction. Wet roads are especially dangerous.

3.      Damaged sidewalls.The sidewall is literally the side of the tire — the part you see when you're looking at your car from the side. Sidewalls can get damaged when the tire hits a curb during a turn, or when the tire hits a hard and sharp object. A puncture or gouge to this area can affect the air pressure inside the tire,affecting the mileage or fuel efficiency of the car. If your tires have even the slightest damage to the sidewalls, have them inspected right away; seek out the high standards of Michelin-approved methods for tire check-ups at dealers and shops carrying MICHELIN tires for a thorough and complete checking.

4.      Abnormal wear. Sometimes one tire wears out faster than the others. This is most likely caused by improper wheel alignment,leading to abnormal, uneven wear on tires since pressure is not evenly distributed on the wheels. See to it that wheel and tire assembly should always be correctly balanced after mounting new tires or after every vehicle repair. This provides a more comfortable ride and extended tire life.Other abnormal wear or damage to tires may also occur inside the tire. As much as possible, have your tire inspected by a tire specialist.

5.      Aging.Tires age and deteriorate over time, just like everything else. Constant tire check-up is imperative for motorists, even if no major damage like puncture holes or uneven wear is visible.Make sure the treads are still visible because the tire tread is your car’s grip on the road. It has an impact on the distance needed for braking. Hard braking is one of the main causes of excessive wear and tire deterioration. Don’t take the risk of driving on old and worn out tires. Even if they look fine and still usable, Michelin recommends that tires be replaced ten years after their manufacture date. Don’t wait for them to give out!

6.      Lastly, remember that there is a right type, size and function of tires for your car. Using the right tires will not only keep your trips safe and your car functioning at top capacity, it will also prolong tire life and improve mileage. One way to find the correct size and tire type for your vehicle is to look at the car manual. You can also check out the Michelin Tire Selector online at  www.michelin.com.ph  which recommends the most reliable, top-quality tires based on your vehicle make, model, tire size and its year of manufacture.

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Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing and marketing tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles/motorcycles, earthmovers, farm equipment and trucks. It also offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in more than 170 countries, has 111,200 employees and operates 67 production plants in 17 different countries. The Group has a Technology Center in charge of research and development with operations in Europe, North America and Asia.(www.michelin.com)