Tyre Manufacturing and Recycling
From raw materials to sustainable mobility — discover how Michelin designs tyres built to perform and protect the planet.
A tyre may look simple — just four rings of rubber connecting your car to the road — yet behind its design lies an extraordinary mix of science, precision, and environmental responsibility.
Every Michelin tyre must perform thousands of kilometres under heavy loads and in all kinds of weather — from rocky terrain to icy roads — while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Here’s how we make it happen.
🧪 Tyre Manufacturing: From Raw Materials to the Road
From Raw Materials to Performance
Each Michelin tyre is the result of more than 200 carefully selected raw materials, chosen for safety, durability, and sustainability.
We design these materials to deliver specific mechanical and chemical properties — ensuring the perfect balance of:
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Grip on dry or wet roads
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Strength and resilience under stress
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Longevity and efficiency over time
Our mission is twofold:
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Minimise material use — to reduce environmental impact throughout the tyre’s life cycle.
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Maximise performance — by assembling materials in ways that optimise every property to its fullest potential.
A Responsible Production System
Michelin’s industrial process is designed to achieve excellence with responsibility, aiming to:
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Optimise environmental impact: Our goal is carbon neutrality by 2050. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved our 2030 roadmap as consistent with the Paris Agreement, and we’ve since raised our ambitions even higher.
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Enhance working conditions: We prioritise quality of life and safety for all Michelin employees across our global manufacturing network.
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Ensure identical performance worldwide: A Michelin tyre performs the same whether it’s made in Europe, the U.S., or Asia — guaranteeing consistent quality everywhere.
🏭 The Tyre Manufacturing Process
1. Understanding Through Research
We study how people drive, brake, and use their vehicles across the globe. This research helps us design tyres that match real-world needs in every condition.
2. Developing and Mixing Materials
A tyre contains over 200 ingredients, grouped into five main families:
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Natural rubber: The foundation of the tread layer.
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Synthetic rubber: Used for specific performance features; Michelin is developing bio-based alternatives to replace oil-derived materials.
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Carbon black and silica: Reinforcing agents that improve durability and rolling resistance — and can be recycled for new tyres.
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Metal and textile reinforcements: Provide structure and strength. Metals are recyclable, and we’re exploring ways to reuse textiles from other industries.
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Chemical agents: Add unique benefits such as ultra-low rolling resistance or extreme grip.
3. Designing
Advanced computer simulations allow us to test thousands of designs virtually, identifying the best balance between performance and minimal material use.
4. Manufacturing
Our factories reproduce each tyre design with precision, balancing efficiency, quality, and sustainability to meet Michelin’s global standards.
5. Quality Control
At Michelin, quality control never stops. We monitor it throughout the entire process — from design to delivery — ensuring every tyre meets the same high performance and safety standards.
🧩 Anatomy of a Tyre
A modern radial tyre is made up of nine key components, each with a specific role:
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Inner liner: Airtight layer that retains inflation pressure.
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Carcass ply: Textile cords bonded in rubber for flexibility and strength.
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Lower bead area: Transfers power from the rim to the road.
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Beads: Keep the tyre seated securely on the rim.
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Sidewall: Protects against impact and displays important information (size, speed rating, etc.).
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Casing ply: The main structural layer, made of high-tensile steel cords.
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Cap ply (“zero-degree” belt): Reinforced nylon cords help maintain shape at high speeds.
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Crown plies (belts): Provide rigidity beneath the tread for precise control.
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Tread: The contact surface that ensures grip, water evacuation, and wear resistance — also carrying Michelin’s distinctive design.
🌱 Tyre Recycling: A Circular Approach
Michelin integrates sustainability at every stage of a tyre’s life — from design and production to end-of-life recovery.
Limiting Raw Material Use
Every Michelin tyre is engineered to use the least possible material without compromising performance.
Why this matters:
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A lighter tyre reduces rolling resistance, improving fuel economy and cutting CO₂ emissions.
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Using fewer raw materials preserves natural resources and lowers transport-related emissions.
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Efficient design reduces waste at every step of the value chain.
Performance Made to Last
Michelin tyres are built to deliver consistent performance until the very last kilometre.
Our tyres feature wear indicators, marked by the Michelin Man, to help you track tread depth easily. By using tyres until their legal wear limit, you:
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Reduce premature replacement,
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Lower environmental impact, and
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Get the full value from every tyre.
Extending Material Life Through Recycling
Michelin’s innovation doesn’t stop at manufacturing — we’re also rethinking what happens next.
1. Recycled Materials in New Tyres
We’re developing processes to reuse materials not only from old tyres but also from other recycled products, such as plastic bottles.
2. Second-Life Applications
Used tyre materials can be repurposed for other uses — from sports surfaces like tennis courts to construction materials — giving them a valuable second life beyond the road.
♻️ Responsible Tyre Disposal
When your tyres are worn out, simply return them to your local Michelin dealer.
Michelin works with certified recycling partners who collect, sort, and process used tyres — turning them into reusable materials for new products.
In France, for example, collection sites deliver used tyres to recycling centres, which channel the materials into sustainable recovery systems. Similar models are used in most countries worldwide.
🟩 Michelin’s Commitment to Sustainable Mobility
From selecting sustainable materials to designing long-lasting tyres and enabling end-of-life recycling, Michelin strives to make every stage of a tyre’s life cycle more efficient and environmentally responsible.
Our ultimate goal: A fully sustainable tyre made from 100% renewable, recyclable, or bio-based materials by 2050.
With every innovation, Michelin moves closer to a future where mobility is both high-performing and sustainable — for drivers, for communities, and for the planet.