MICHELIN Advanced Technology: Advanced Technology" tyres benefit from superior performance thanks to the special nature of their tread patterns and rubber compounds. When designing their folding cycle tyres, they use flexible beads (TS). Flexible beads invented and developed by Michelin are made exclusively of aramid fabric, which is also to be found in bulletproof vests. This textile fabric has a great resistance to extension whilst being very lightweight. These beads therefore have the special features of being very light and very strong, which reduces the overall weight by 40 to 70g per tyre. All Michelin high performance Road and Mountain Bike tyres are equipped with flexible beads.