Michelin launches Harley-Davidson co-branded OE Scorcher tyre series in the aftermarket

French tyre major Michelin has launched its Scorcher 11 and Scorcher 31 tyres, which will now also be retailed through its authorised dealerships across the country.

The tyres, which are part of original equipment on Harley-Davidson’s Street, Dyna, V-Rod and the Sportster series motorcycles on sale in the country, will now also be sold outside the Harley-Davidson service centres.

The range includes the Michelin Scorcher 11 series, which sees Aramid tread plies in its construction, offering weight reduction and resistance against centrifugal growth. The tyres are claimed to offer good wet surface performance, by implementing Michelin’s Silica Rain Technology (SRT), giving good road grip in damp conditions. Scorcher 11 tyres come shod on the Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow, V-Rod Muscle, XR 1200, and the Night Rod motorcycles.

The second in the tyre series is the Michelin Scorcher 31, which boasts of a highly hydrophobic tread pattern, to channel away water and enhance road holding capability. The material also comprises of new-gen polymers, with the use of Michelin’s Amplified Density Technology (ADT), which offers a rigid and high-density tyre carcass, improving road feedback, manoeuvrability, agility, as well as providing additional protection against punctures.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster and Dyna models come equipped with the Scorcher 31 series.

Commenting on the introduction, Pradeep G Thampy, commercial director, two wheels, Michelin Africa-India-Middle East, said, “We are very pleased to bring the Michelin Scorchers, specially designed and engineered for Harley-Davidson riders in India. We always strive to bring best tyre technology products for the Indian consumer and are happy to make Michelin Scorchers available to a wide network of Michelin dealerships across India in the replacement market. With the inclusion of these tyres, today, our motorcycle tyre portfolio covers the widest possible range of leisure motorcycles in India.”

Harley-Davidson India sold a total of 3,690 units (-21.62%) in the domestic market in FY2017, and exported 5,561 units (-23.42%).