I bought some new tires for my car and the new Michelin Energy Saver A/s doesn't sit at/behind the rim anymore. The rims are now nicely protected by the lip of the tire. Same size as OEM 235/45/18. My apologies if this has been discussed here before, but it was a nice surprise for me with my new tires. The rim is at least a 1/4 inch inside the protection of the tire with the new tires.
What, did Michelin get so many complaints from the millions of Clarity owners that they changed their tire mold, rearranged the belts in the sidewalls, and/or used a softer synthetic rubber in the sidewalls? I wonder if only the aftermarket tires are different and the OEM tires are the same as they've always been--it's probably a secret plot to promote the sales of new rims. This news comes too late for my rims; I've already had to get out the file to ameliorate some of the damage. For those who have a 2021 Clarity, do your tires protect the rims from inconsiderate curbs that are always placed too close to the car?
