And you thought pot holes were bad!
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
Making tyres that work reliably on our roads is hard enough, but imagine trying to design ones that work on the Moon!
That’s the challenge that veteran manufacturer Michelin has set itself, according to Tyre Trade News. At last year’s Le Man 24 Hours, Michelin spelled out the connection between its long endurance race tyres and its work on developing tyres for NASA’s Artemis project, set to tackle the unexplored South Pole of the Moon.
Michelin also make plenty of tyres for back on Earth (prices correct for 17th April 2025).
What is that connection? Both are products of Michelin’s mighty Research and Development. Based at Clermont-Ferrand in France, the 6,000-strong team works on solving the toughest tyre puzzles. At Le Mans 24 hours, obviously the challenge is how to provide incredible grip and endurance. In the last twenty years or so, they’ve succeeded in reducing tyre consumption during the race by 50%.
Whilst that’s a feat, this is what they’re up against making tyres for lunar explorers:
- No direct testing. The R & D have to rely on studies of the Moon’s surface provided by astronauts, then test in France’s volcanic landscape in the Massif Central.
- Massive UV exposure. With no atmospheric protection, the Moon gets hugely increased levels of UV radiation, which degrades tyres.
- Shifting, slippy surfaces. The ground the tyres must travel on may be sandy/dusty and loose. The slopes that the rover must tackle may be up to 1 in 5.
- Low gravity. Compounding the slippy surfaces, the Moon has only 1/6th of Earth’s gravity, which means even less friction for the tyres to generate grip.
- Need for low rolling resistance. Although the vehicle needs traction sufficient to tackle those slippy surfaces, the tyres also need to present as little rolling resistance as possible. Higher rolling resistance means lower range.
- Extreme climactic variation. The tyres may face temperatures that range from -250 C to over 100 C. This is a far greater range than encountered anywhere on Earth.
- Abrasive surfaces. Surfaces encountered on Earth have usually been exposed to countless years of weathering, smoothing off the sharp edges. This is not the case on the Moon, meaning that tyres have to cope with highly abrasive surfaces.
- Long lasting. The lunar rover will have to operate for a decade.
Michelin’s experience with NASA
This isn’t the first time Michelin has worked with NASA. The French manufacturer designed and produced the tyres for the Space Shuttle during the period 1995 to 2007. 135 missions were flown on Michelin tyres.
Meanwhile, back in South Oxfordshire
The towns of Abingdon, Didcot, Henley-on-Thames (and all the surrounding communities) may be 250,000 miles away from the Moon, but you can still benefit from the expertise of Michelin’s boffins. We currently carry well over 700 different types of Michelin tyres. Just fill in our simple form or contact us and we’ll arrange to fit them at your place of work or home.
Thanks to Tyre Trade News for the info – check out their full article.
The BK Tyres blog carries news, views and information on tyres and related subjects. BK Tyres supplies and fits tyres throughout South Oxfordshire, including the communities of Abingdon, Didcot and Henley on Thames. As an independent, family run mobile provider, we provide exceptional levels of service and affordable prices. Contact us today.