Michelin based the claim on internal wet braking test results from 40 and 50 mph versus new Goodyear Assurance TripleTred A/S tires in size 235/55R17 (99H) using Premier A/S tires in size 235/55R17 (99H) buffed to 5/32″ of tread. Actual on-road results may vary.

Tires rely on grooves between the treads to evacuate water and maintain grip with the road. Until now, tires traditionally lost traction in wet conditions as the tread became worn and grooves lost depth decreasing the tire’s ability to funnel water away, increasing stopping distances and the chances of hydroplaning. Wet traction is particularly important for automotive safety because drivers are more than twice as likely to be in an accident on wet roads compared to dry roads, according to the 2012 NHTSA report “Tire-Related Factors in the Pre-Crash Phase”.

Unlike conventional tires, the Premier A/S tire uses a new design with a unique set of features to maintain wet traction even as the tire becomes worn. MICHELIN Premier A/S with EverGrip uses three main elements to provide this traction over time:

• High-traction Compound: Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip features a proprietary rubber compound with extreme amounts of silica and sunflower oil. The silica provides the bonding strength and adherence to keep the treads on the road for high traction in wet conditions. The sunflower oil allows the tire to grip on wet roads at lower temperatures. These ingredients are mixed through an exacting process that ensures a consistent material contacting the road both when new and worn.

• Expanding Rain Grooves: In most tires, as the rain grooves lose depth, the amount of water they can funnel away from the tire is diminished. Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip has rain grooves positioned around the circumference of the tire with a special geometric shape that gets wider as the tread wears. This helps maintain the amount of water that the tire can channel away even as these rain grooves lose depth.

• Emerging Grooves: Initially hidden when the tire is new, Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip has another set of grooves along the tire’s shoulder that emerge as the tire becomes worn. More than 150 hidden grooves emerge to provide additional help in channeling water away and maintaining wet traction as miles are logged.

These three elements work together to give MICHELIN Premier A/S with EverGrip improved traction in a range of conditions year round. The Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip provides consumers with shorter stopping, hydroplaning resistance and increased grip when new and worn.

The Michelin Premier A/S with EverGrip will be introduced in the spring and initially will be available in 32 sizes (185/65R15 – 245/45R18) fitting a range of passenger cars including the Cadillac CTS, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry among others. Michelin will offer a limited 60,000-mile warranty with MICHELIN Premier A/S, which will be manufactured in North America at Michelin plants in Lexington and Greenville, S.C., Ardmore, Okla., and Pictou County and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.