Tire makers set sights on pricey wheel market

BEIJING - French tire maker Michelin is reinforcing its brand and reputation in the high-performance tire market by launching the latest products as Chinese customers become more demanding.

"We are putting more attention on the high performance tire market than before, a segment that is growing at a speed twice that of the overall tire market in China last year," said Antoine Guerin, vice-president of marketing and sales with Michelin (China) Investment Co Ltd.

Michelin launched its Pilot Sport 3 tire in China this week, a new generation of high-performance tires. The launch follows the market entry of the Primacy LC last year.