Thai Produced Michelin Tyres Mulled Over

In recent months a letter originating from Michelin Tyre PLC commercial director, Chris Bloor, has circulated among the tyre distribution community highlighting the availability of parallel imported Michelin branded 295/80R 22.5 XZE2+ commercial vehicle tyres. Tyres & Accessories approached Mr Bloor for further clarification, and asked what was behind the memo.

The letter uses guarded language throughout, which, according to the commercial director, was “guided by a legal hand.” The problem is some of those who received it questioned what the memo was saying between the lines.

The final paragraph was particularly scrutinised by readers. “Please be informed that these potential problems, and those associated with any health and safety issue will be referred back to the re-seller and supplying importer by Michelin Tyre PLC for resolution,” the letter read.

While Mr Bloor’s memo makes it clear that “the third party importation and use of the product is completely legal,” it also explains that “Michelin Tyre PLC have no retread process for this tyre, and minor adjustments to the tread design will lead to diminished wear life potential when used in Western Europe”.

According to Chris Bloor, the letter says everything it needed to say and was written because the company felt it “necessary to share some information regarding these tyres in terms of operating performance and subsequent suitability for retreading by Michelin Tyre PLC.”

Michelin claims the operating conditions and climate in the Asia Pacific region (the tyres in question were produced in Thailand) were specially designed for this area and are therefore intended to be “solely supplied to that zone.”

But what about the e-mark? Mr Bloor told T&A that the tyres remain legal and safe to use, as exemplified by the their ‘E’ and ‘DOT’ markings, but the fact that they have these markings does not mean they have be sold or used in the US or EU markets. What do you think? E-mail chris.anthony@77.237.250.82 to send a letter to the editor.