Hyundai Motor Group announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Michelin Tires to develop next-generation tires optimized for premium electric vehicles (EVs), according to a June 20 announcement.

The agreement is a follow-up to the first five-year partnership signed in November 2017 to jointly develop an exclusive tire for IONIQ 5 and carry out experiments and analysis related to tires and technology exchange. Over the next three years, Hyundai and Michelin plan to jointly develop the following innovations: eco-friendly tires with increased use of eco-friendly materials; tires optimized for next-generation EVs, and a real-time tire monitoring system, which will help advance autonomous driving technology, the news release noted.

“This partnership with Michelin will result in real innovations in tire technology, solidifying Hyundai Motor Group’s position as a leader in the smart mobility industry,” Bong-soo Kim, vice president and head of chassis development center at Hyundai Motor Group, said. “By fully leveraging our mobility technology and Michelin’s tire expertise, we are confident in our ability to achieve ground-breaking innovations in tire performance enhancement and create synergies in this organic collaboration.”

These tires will find their way onto future premium Hyundai EV models. The company acknowledges how critical it is for the new tire technology to meet the durability requirements of tires, as well as driving performance and electric efficiency under high load as the driving range of EVs continues to increase.

Hyundai and Michelin also plan to conduct joint research to analyze tire wear, tire load, and road friction beyond the current standards of tire temperature and air pressure. The new tires are also expected to  improve drivers’ ride comfort by reducing vibration and noise generated by EVs at high speeds.

The partnership will also explore ways to increase the use of eco-friendly materials in tires to about 50% of the total tire weight from 20% currently.

A signing ceremony for the partnership took place at Hyundai Motor Group’s Namyang Research Center on June 17, attended by Bong-soo Kim, vice president and head of chassis development center at Hyundai Motor Group, and Georges Levy, executive vice president of automotive original equipment at Michelin.