TYRES: Michelin goes quiet with Primacy 3 ST

Michelin has launched a ‘silent’ tyre designed and built for markets in South East Asia, including Australia. The new tyre, marketed under the name Primacy 3 ST, was developed especially for the tastes of the region, including, says Michelin, the concept that driving should be “a break from the chaos” of everyday.

The Primacy 3 ST features a specification, construction and compound unique to the region. Though it was developed in parallel with the European Primacy 3, the local tyre is unique. Development was carried out by Michelin in Japan, with around 1.3 million kilometres of on-road testing taking place on roads in Malaysia and Thailand.

The ST in the tyre’s title stands for Silence Tuned. Though emphasis was placed on the tyre’s quietness and comfort, Michelin says dynamic qualities were not sacrificed.

The company claims the tyre is eight per cent quieter than the Primacy 3 LC it replaces, but that it also yields significant wet braking improvements (1.6m over its predecessor and up to 2.9m when compared to an average of its direct competitors, claims the French giant), comparable dry performance, and an increase in tyre life of over 25 per cent.

Michelin uses a number of proprietary technologies in the Primacy 3 ST to achieve the improvements.

The tyres feature a unique tread pattern with a multitude of tread block sizes to spread the noise generated over a range of frequencies. Called ‘EvenPeak’ by Michelin, the technology also has benefits in water clearing on wet roads.

FlexMax is Michelin’s term for the particular characteristics of the compound it uses which yields both comfort and mechanical grip benefits.

CushionGuard defines the 3 ST’s tyre-wall construction which, says the company yields both comfort and durability benefits. This allows the tyre to both absorb small bumps and cope with pothole-style big hits on the bad road surfaces common to both Australia and South East Asia.

Stabiligrip is a feature which moulds an interlocking band into the tyre mid-tread which limits individual tread block distortion under hard use. This feature ‘reinforces’ the tyre in dry use but equally allows the tyre grooves (sipes in tyre language) to stay open and draining water under duress in wet conditions.

The new tyres are fitted as OEM on Honda’s latest Accord. Michelin says it’s likely that other OEM fitments will be announced including European models destined for this marketplace.

Primacy 3 ST will be launched into the aftermarket in Australia in a range of sizes to fit local and imported medium and large cars with wheel diametres ranging from 15 - 19 inches. Extensive fitment options are offered, particularly in the important 17 and 18-inch sizes.

MICHELIN Primacy 3ST from idcreations on Vimeo.

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