Michelin and four academic partners have inaugurated I-TireLab, a joint research laboratory in Clermont-Ferrand, France, focused on tire technology, manufacturing processes and applications for flexible composites. The partnership combines Michelin with the University of Poitiers, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble INP – UGA and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The project represents a total investment of about €4.5 million over four years.
Announced Nov. 4, the initiative is intended to strengthen links between academic research and industrial application by combining data analysis, mathematical modeling and experimentation. Michelin will contribute expertise in tire simulation, materials, industrial processes and product-use data, while the academic partners will provide theoretical and methodological expertise to develop and validate new approaches.
Four research priorities
The laboratory will concentrate on four areas. The first involves developing real-time estimates of tire wear and grip from data generated by existing onboard vehicle sensors, with the aim of assessing tire condition without additional specialized equipment.
A second area will examine how tire condition and grip information can be incorporated into vehicle control systems. The objective is to optimize braking performance and improve vehicle stability and efficiency.
The third focuses on rubber manufacturing. Teams are developing simulation and control tools to help manufacturers plan equipment operations and optimize production settings while maintaining consistent rubber quality and reducing raw material waste and energy consumption.
The fourth area will examine how flexible materials can influence air and water flows around objects. Researchers are developing control methods that can change the shape of components to modify surrounding flows.
I-TireLab will give researchers access to industrial facilities, demonstrators and testing environments so methods can be evaluated under near-real-world conditions. Findings could eventually contribute to future Michelin innovation projects.
One planned application involves Michelin Touch Intelligence, a tire digital twin introduced by the company in May 2026. The technology combines vehicle sensor data with Michelin models to estimate tire pressure, wear, load and grip in real time without requiring additional sensors, and it is designed to work across vehicle brands and models.
The laboratory’s research into flexible composites could also support Wisamo, Michelin’s inflatable and retractable automated wingsail for ships. The system uses wind to supplement vessel propulsion and reduce fuel consumption. Its first sail is in the delivery phase, according to the company.
Philippe Jacquin, Michelin’s general manager and director of research and development, said the partnership would help translate scientific research into practical innovations involving tires, manufacturing and tire-vehicle interactions. Guillaume Mercère, director of I-TireLab, and co-directors John Martinez-Molina and Thibault Dairay said the initiative would bring researchers, engineers and young scientists together to improve mobility safety, manufacturing processes and flexible-material applications.
The collaboration will also support training for young researchers working across fundamental research, experimentation and industrial applications. It builds on existing collaboration between Michelin and the academic teams and establishes a longer-term framework for converting data into knowledge and practical solutions.