Our History
Thanks to its global reputation , Michelin is internationally recognized as the n°1 tire manufacturer in the world. For over 100 years, Michelin has repeatedly stepped up to confront the challenges faced by he aeronautic industry. It has pioneered beyond the frontiers of technology, seeking out new developments and offering its clients greater mobility solutions.
Michelin will continue to rise to the occasion, offering the very best in aircraft tire innovation.
Timeline - Some of Key Dates
1889 Edouard and André Michelin establish Michelin, the largest tire manufacturer in the world, as a small rubber factory in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
1908 Creation of “Michelin Special Prize” and “Michelin Cup” to encourage the progress of Aviation.
1911 Eugene Renaux wins the “Michelin Special Prize” as he flies from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand, a record.
1914 Less than 3 weeks after the declaration of war, Michelin offers the French government its help in the designing of a true bomber.
1916 The world’s first cement runway is built by Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand.
1917-1919 Almost 2000 Bréguet aircraft are built in Michelin’s first plant.
1936 Michelin labeled specialists in suspension systems
1946 Radial Tire technology is invented by Michelin
1981 The French Air Force fighter jet, the Mirage III, is equipped with the world’s first operational radial aircraft tire ̶ the MICHELIN® AIR X®.
1983 Michelin develops the first radial tire on commercial aircraft, Airbus A300.
1984 Michelin develops the first radial tire on business jet, Falcon 900.
1984 First commercial flight on radial tires with A300-B4.
1986 Michelin develops the first radial tire on a U.S. military aircraft, McDonnell Douglas F15E. Michelin develops a radial tire for the most popular Airbus aircraft, Airbus A320.
1992 Michelin develops the first radial tire on a regional aircraft, ATR-42.
1995 Michelin named exclusive supplier for all American space shuttles.
1997 Development of New Bias technology for aircraft tires
2000 Michelin is the sole supplier to the NASA Space Shuttle program and is proud to celebrate the touch down of Space Shuttle Discovery completing the program’s 100th mission.
2000 Launch of the Radial NZG (Near Zero Growth) technology
2001 Concorde returns to the skies thanks to Michelin’s new radial NZG technology
2005 Radial NZG certified on A380.
2009 Michelin joins the solar Impulse project
2009 Exclusive fitment on Sukhoi Superjet 100.
2010 Radial NZG certified on Embraer E-Jet E-170/E-190.
2010 Radial NZG selected as OE to equip Bombardier Cseries.
2010 NZG technology chosen as OE for Airbus A350.
2011 Michelin selected on Chinese COMAC 919.
2015 737 MAX certification and first flight of A350 with NZG technology
2017 – Launch of the first connected aircraft by Michelin in partnership with Safran.
Michelin continues to enhance its NZG (Near Zero Growth) Radial technology for all new aircraft (Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier, Dassault, and Textron, to name a few).
This continuously evolving technology has positioned Michelin as today’s global leader in Radial aviation technology.