There is a "bead wire" made from drawn steel rod in tires. Most, 90+% out source this component to "steel wire" mfg's. Not Michelin! They insist on drawing their own bead wire. This is a capital intensive process that involves taking wire rod (around the diameter of your finger) and pulling it through dies into finer and finer diameters.
Michelin is the ONLY tire company willing to go to this length to assure product quality. The other tire guys simply buy bead wire as more of an after-thought. Michelin is very fanatical about their tires and that fanaticism is told in the bead wire story.

 

My premiers installed on my 2005 with factory 18s have been great so far. after a few weeks ive had them through stop and go traffic, highway driving etc. they have been smooth and quiet up to 90mph with zero noise. wet traction has been good in the rain. waiting to see how they are in snow.

 

X Ice 3's real quiet, handle real nice, wear well. Cant drive with one hand at 6 o clock any longer and steer with my finger like my A/S but don't regret putting these things on every year. Real nice my Toy dealer changes em out, rotates em and stores em for free