Michelin has announced the launch of Agilis CrossClimate, a summer tyre with a full winter capability. The new tyre boasts safety in all weather conditions, it is damage resistant and has a long lasting performance, equates to a low total cost of ownership, and it is robust and has high mileage.

Agilis CrossClimate went through some rigorous tests to prove its mobility in wintry conditions and its fitment received a 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) winter certification for use on snowy roads. Additionally, the tyre performs well on muddy and grassy surfaces, making it ideal for the range of surfaces UK vans travel on.

“The Agilis CrossClimate solves the problem of wintry conditions bringing a van or light truck fleet to its knees in the UK and Ireland. It also eradicates the expense of buying different sets of winter and summer tyres – which, given the relatively mild climate across great swathes of the country in winter, can be an unwanted outlay for fleet managers,” explained Jonathan Layton, Michelin’s Head of Fleet in the UK and Ireland.

The new tyre was manufactured with innovative new rubber compounds to promote flexibility in cold temperatures and sidewall and shoulder protection features for improved robustness in service. Vans and light trucks are expected to be operational all year round, regardless of the weather; therefore, they need a solution that can make that possible.

The tyre’s fitment was inspired by the award winning Cross climate+ car tyre range and its V-shaped tread blocks’ bi-directional self-locking sipes provide cutting edges which bite into snow. This increases the tyre life, which lasts 35% longer than the average lifespan of premium competitors tested.

The Michelin Agilis CrossClimate has been tested in challenging winter conditions in two European locations: Ivalo, which is high up in the Arctic Circle in Finland, and Barcelonnette, which at 2,715 metres altitude in the Alps is one of the highest roads in Europe.

It is the perfect summer tyre that meets the wet braking, dry braking, longevity, and fuel efficiency of one, while having the advantages of a winter tyre in traction and braking.