Michelin is launching its new Primacy 3 car tyre, which will be available in the UK and Europe from February 2012.

The new tyre’s name reflects the fact that the tyre enhances safety in three different areas of performance.

Compared with its four market-leading competitors, the tyre manufacturer says that the Michelin Primacy 3 delivers the best grip when braking on dry or wet surfaces and when cornering on wet roads.

One example is that at 100 km/h, the Michelin Primacy 3 stopped 2.2 metres shorter on average than its competitors on a dry surface.

Dave Crinson, Michelin National Sales Manager, Car Fleets UK & ROI, said: “In a recent Fleet News survey, fleet managers listed safety as their top priority and the new Primacy 3 tyres offers fleets an opportunity to improve safety in three different areas: grip when braking on dry surfaces, grip when braking on wet surfaces and grip when cornering on wet roads.

“We know duty of care is of paramount importance for all fleets no matter what size, and these tyres help fleet managers fulfil those responsibilities.”

He added: “The challenge for Michelin is always to improve quality in one area without sacrificing it in another, and this has been the same for the development of Primacy 3.

“A team of 60 engineers spent three years designing these tyres, nearly 25,000 prototypes were produced and more than 20 million kilometres of tests conducted across Europe from northern Germany to southern Spain.

“It’s that process that means these tyres not only have improved safety benefits, but at the same time they share the common features of all Michelin products offering reduced fuel consumption through low rolling resistance and superior longevity.”

Like all Michelin tyres, the Primacy 3 also offers high total mileage while reducing fuel consumption – in this case up to 70 litres over the life of the tyre.