Michelin and four academic partners have inaugurated I-TireLab, a joint research laboratory in France focused on tire technology, manufacturing and flexible composites. The partners are 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 approximately €4.5 million over four years.
The initiative was announced on Nov. 4. It 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 tracks
The laboratory will pursue four areas. One is the real-time estimation of tire wear and grip using data from sensors already installed on vehicles, with the aim of assessing tire condition without additional specialized equipment. A second examines how tire condition and grip information can be incorporated into vehicle control systems to optimize braking, stability and efficiency.
A third track focuses on rubber manufacturing. Teams plan to develop simulation and control tools that help manufacturers plan equipment operations and optimize production settings while maintaining consistent rubber quality and reducing raw-material waste and energy consumption. The fourth will study how flexible materials affect air and water flows around objects, including control methods that 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. The laboratory also aims to train young researchers working across fundamental research, experimentation and industrial applications.
Planned applications
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 additional sensors, and is designed to work across vehicle brands and models. Research into flexible composites could also support Wisamo, Michelin’s inflatable and retractable automated wingsail for ships, which uses wind to supplement vessel propulsion and reduce fuel consumption. The 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 partnership builds on existing collaboration between Michelin and the academic teams and establishes a longer-term framework for converting data into knowledge and practical solutions.