Michelin Showcases 75% Sustainable Tire at China CIIE

Michelin (Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin S.C.A.) will participate in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the sixth time under the theme "Advancing Innovation Together." At this year's exhibition, the company will present two innovations making their Asian debut: a tire manufactured using 75% renewable and recycled materials and its Michelin Touch Intelligence technology. The showcase highlights the company's developments in sustainable tire materials and software-based solutions designed to provide vehicles with additional information about road conditions and potential driving risks.

Michelin's sustainable tire incorporates a combination of renewable and recycled materials, including natural rubber, recovered carbon black obtained from end-of-life tires, bio-based oils and resins, and synthetic rubber manufactured using bio-based butadiene. Other materials include renewable or recycled textile fibers, bio-based silica derived from rice husks, and steel incorporating recycled scrap metal. The tire has undergone an independent third-party audit and received approval for road use, demonstrating that the showcased product meets the stated requirements for on-road application.

Michelin reported that the proportion of renewable and recycled materials used in its sustainable tires increased from 46% in 2021 to 75% in 2026. The company has established a longer-term objective of using 100% renewable and recycled materials in its tires by 2050. The latest material composition represents progress toward this target, with the tire combining several bio-based and recovered inputs across its construction. Its presentation at the CIIE will provide an opportunity for Michelin to showcase this development as part of its broader focus on tire material innovation.

The second innovation, Michelin Touch Intelligence, is a software-only solution that operates without requiring additional sensors. It uses tire-related data to evaluate road conditions and communicates the resulting information to the vehicle. Beyond providing information based on real-time sensing, the technology is designed to extend vehicle capabilities by predicting potential risks. Through this approach, Michelin is presenting a software-based application that uses existing tire-related data to support road-condition assessment and risk prediction without adding dedicated sensing hardware.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Michelin's CIIE showcase highlights two complementary areas of automotive technology development: sustainable material composition and software-based tire intelligence. Increasing the renewable and recycled material share from 46% in 2021 to 75% in 2026 demonstrates measurable progress toward the company's 2050 objective of reaching 100%. The use of recovered carbon black, bio-based butadiene, rice-husk-derived silica and recycled steel also illustrates the range of materials incorporated into its tire development. Meanwhile, Touch Intelligence expands the role of tire-related data by supporting road-condition assessment and potential-risk prediction without additional sensors. Together, these innovations reflect Michelin's approach to advancing material and digital technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will Michelin showcase at the China International Import Expo?
Michelin will present two innovations making their Asian debut at the China International Import Expo under the theme "Advancing Innovation Together." The first is a tire manufactured using 75% renewable and recycled materials. The second is Michelin Touch Intelligence, a software-only solution that uses tire-related data to assess road conditions and predict potential risks. This will be the company's sixth participation in the exhibition, where it plans to highlight developments in sustainable tire materials and software-based technology.

What materials are used in Michelin's 75% sustainable tire?
Michelin's tire incorporates renewable and recycled materials, including natural rubber, recovered carbon black, bio-based oils and resins, and synthetic rubber made using bio-based butadiene. Its other materials include renewable or recycled textile fibers, bio-based silica derived from rice husks, and steel incorporating recycled scrap metal. These materials contribute to the tire's stated 75% renewable and recycled content. The product has also undergone an independent third-party audit and received approval for road use, according to the company.

What is Michelin's target for renewable and recycled tire materials?
Michelin aims to manufacture its tires using 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050. The company reported that the proportion of these materials in its sustainable tires increased from 46% in 2021 to 75% in 2026. The latest figure represents an increase of 29 percentage points over the reported period. The tire showcased at the China International Import Expo demonstrates the company's progress toward its longer-term material target through the incorporation of bio-based, renewable and recovered materials.

What is Michelin Touch Intelligence technology?
Michelin Touch Intelligence is a software-only solution that uses tire-related data to evaluate road conditions and provide the resulting information to the vehicle. Unlike solutions requiring additional sensing hardware, it operates without the installation of additional sensors. Its capabilities extend beyond real-time sensing by also supporting the prediction of potential risks. Michelin is presenting the technology as one of two innovations making their Asian debut at the China International Import Expo, alongside its tire containing 75% renewable and recycled materials.

Does Michelin Touch Intelligence require additional sensors?
No, Michelin Touch Intelligence is designed as a software-only solution and does not require additional sensors. Instead, it uses tire-related data to assess road conditions and communicates the resulting information to the vehicle. The technology is intended to extend capabilities beyond real-time sensing by predicting potential risks. This sensor-free approach is a defining feature of the solution described by Michelin. The company is showcasing the technology at the China International Import Expo as part of its latest innovation presentation.

How has Michelin increased the renewable and recycled content of its tires?
Michelin reported that the renewable and recycled material share in its sustainable tires increased from 46% in 2021 to 75% in 2026. The showcased tire combines multiple material categories, including natural rubber, recovered carbon black from end-of-life tires, bio-based oils and resins, and synthetic rubber made from bio-based butadiene. It also incorporates renewable or recycled textile fibers, rice-husk-derived silica and steel containing recycled scrap metal. Michelin aims to increase this proportion to 100% by 2050.