The "TR" was for "tension répartie", since tire stresses were better balanced in the new design, whilst the "X" was a reference to previous Michelin products such as the famous "X" radial.
TRX tires were available either as standard or optional equipment on certain models of European makes such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Citroën, Peugeot, Ford, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Renault, and SAAB.
[5] Although the tire gave good performance, and thus as noted above gained favour with some OEMs, its non-standard dimensions proved problematic in the aftermarket.
Rival manufacturers, such as Dunlop, thus produced replacement wheels and tires for popular cars, specifically for high-performance or winter conditions.
In due course advances in tire technology caught up with the TRX line, enabling similar performance and greater convenience at lower cost.