Agnès Poulbot and Jacques Barraud† (France)

Invention: "Auto-regenerating" tyre tread

A new generation of automotive tyres for heavy weights relies on applied mathematics for a significant performance boost, thanks to French researchers Agnès Poulbot and Jacques Barraud. Marketed by multinational tyre manufacturer Michelin, their clever tyre-tread design obtained by 3 D metal printing not only increases durability, but also significantly decreases fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions while safeguarding a better performance of used tyres and their usage in all seasons to maximum level of wear.

Tyres are among the unsung heroes of automotive technology. They help absorb bumps on the road, ensure safe traction and provide both low rolling resistance to save fuel and the durability necessary for thousands of kilometres of travel.

Tyre design has come a long way since André Michelin and his brother Édouard at the Michelin Tyre Company (Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin) introduced the first removable rubber tyres for automobiles in 1895. Finding the perfect balance between grip, durability and reduced rolling resistance has kept materials scientists and tyre experts hard at work over the years.

In 2013, Michelin researchers Agnès Poulbot and Jacques Barraud patented an innovative tyre-tread design that "auto-regenerates" as it wears down, reducing rolling resistance, increasing fuel efficiency and extending tyre lifespan by up to 20%. 

Marketed as the RegenionTM tyre technology, and available for heavy vehicles since 2013 and passenger cars since 2016, the patented design offers another significant benefit: upgrading a vehicle to Regenion tyres results in 3 724 kg fewer CO₂ emissions per tyre lifespan compared with conventional models.

Societal benefit

Pollution from cars and lorries presents a mounting problem in cities around the world. The European Commission estimates that cars are responsible for around 12% of total European Union (EU) emissions of CO₂, the main greenhouse gas. Heavy-duty vehicles produce around 25% of CO₂ emissions from road transport in the EU and around 5% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions.

Using tyres with lower rolling resistance is one way to reduce emissions, which is why, in 2012, the EU introduced tyre labels to rate sustainability and performance. All tyre models featuring Poulbot and Barraud's invention received the top AAA rating for fuel efficiency and the shortest braking distance under wet conditions.

According to Poulbot, the Regenion tread design saves 26 grammes of CO₂ emissions per kilometre, which adds up to 2.6 tonnes less CO₂ over 100 000 kilometres. In addition, the tyres help reduce noise pollution and conform with noise regulations introduced in 2016 by the European Parliament.

Economic benefit

Patent holder Michelin is one of the biggest manufacturers of tyres worldwide and reported sales of 170 000 tyre units incorporating the invention in 2017. The company forecasts that it will sell 670 000 PL units featuring Regenion technology by 2019, which would amount to 15% of its heavy-duty tyre sales. By 2022, Michelin expects Regenion to generate 30% of heavy-duty tyre sales.

Essentially, the tyre "auto-regenerates" as it wears down. The tyre tread is optimised for minimal energy dissipation and reduced rolling resistance in order to secure the best possible performance during its lifetime.