IV - THE MAIN PROBLEMS

rubber breakdown in the cold - 

Track specificities

The fundamentals

All rubber compounds used in tyres have performance windows that fall within a range of temperatures.

•There is a low temperature threshold from which the rubber loses elasticity and becomes brittle.

This can be as low as -55°C for some rubber compounds. This is called the breaking point.

•There is also a high temperature threshold from which the rubber becomes pasty/viscous.

This is generally above 200°C. It is called the reversion point.

The vast majority of our tyres operate within these thermal limits without impediment.

Supersport and competition tyres

In competition and hypersport tyres, the very high temperatures encountered (related to the very high

levels of grip) require a specif ic blend of tyre compounds to withstand them.

One consequence of this is that these soft compound tyres have a break point of as high as 15°C.

Handling these tyres at this temperature or lower may result in the tread or other area of rubber on the

tyre literally breaking. Care must therefore be taken to store the tyres in appropriate conditions which

avoid these temperatures. If this occurs, the tyres should not be handled at all.

Warning: Rubber

breakdown in the cold

can appear inside the

tyre only and so remain

invisible. It can manifest

itself as one small crack

or many larger cracks all

around the tyre.

MICHELIN

Power Performance

MICHELIN

Power

Slick ²

MICHELIN

Power

CUP ²

MICHELIN

Power

CUP

EVO

MICHELIN

Power

Supermoto

MICHELIN

Power

GP

2

MICHELIN

Power

GP

MICHELIN

Power 6

MICHELIN

Power

5

MICHELIN

Power

Supermo-

to

rain

MICHELIN

Power

RAIN

Handling transport storage

Never handle the tyre at a

temperature below 10C in

order to prevent damage to

the tyre

Never handle the tyre at a temperature below 5C

in order to prevent damage to the tyre

Never handle the tyre at a temperature below 10C

in order to prevent damage to the tyre

Mounting and dismounting

Before f itting and unf itting

the tyre should have been

stored for at least 24h at a

temperature greater than

15C

Before f itting and unf itting the tyre should have

been stored for at least 24h at a temperature

greater than 10C

MICHELIN MOTORCYCLE AND SCOOTER 179

Technical data