Khao Yai (Thailand) — The idea of Asian-made cars for Asian markets is not unfamiliar to us. Now, that concept has trickled down to other components, as French tyre company Michelin explains with its new Primacy 3 ST model, which will arrive in Singapore next month.

Made in Thailand, the new tyre has been designed and developed specifically for Asia’s road and weather conditions. Given the diversity in driving environments within this region, that is certainly a bold claim.

An Asian-specific tyre has to endure bad surfaces and the pothole-laden roads found in many countries in the region. It also needs good wet-weather performance to cope with monsoons and near-daily thunderstorms.

Michelin spokesmen admit that the Primacy 3 ST was probably the toughest tyre project that they have undertaken, given the scale and complexity of adapting a tyre to such a wide variety of conditions. But they are confident they have come up with the ideal product that will appeal to the everyday Asian motorist. To that end, the Primacy 3 ST encompasses new technologies to help it achieve its stated goals.

For example, CushionGuard combines a flexible thread compound with a curved tyre sidewall to absorb harsh road vibrations and bumps for better comfort.

FlexMax technology incorporates a chamfered thread block that helps the tyre conform to the shape of the road, enhancing grip and stability.

When put to the test during the regional launch at the Bonanza International Speedway in Khao Yai, Thailand, the Primacy 3 ST fared well, with excellent noise absorption and good wet braking ability.

It also proved up to the task in wet and dry cornering tests, with the Toyota Camry test cars feeling easy to pilot at speed when compared to Michelin’s chosen comparison tyre, the Bridgestone Turanza GR90.

It underscores how important Asia is to companies like Michelin. And there’s more to come, as Michelin revealed during the launch that its future strategy will see Asia figure very strongly in its product development plans. It’s about time South-east Asia — one of the world’s biggest latex producers — got its very own rubber.