Michelin and The Weather Channel Team Up for a S.A.F.E.R. Summer Driving Season

ATLANTA, May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As National Tire Safety Week (May 24-30) kicks off the summer travel season, Michelin and The Weather Channel (Weather) have teamed up to provide motorists with critical information about the weather's impact on ensuring a "S.A.F.E.R." journey ahead.

Michelin experts and The Weather Channel meteorologists will take advantage of Weather's exclusive and popular "Road Ready" digital and broadcast platforms to provide motorists with driving tips for various weather conditions and other safety advice. The initiative reflects both organizations' ongoing commitments to road safety in all conditions. Summer drivers will find features on broadcast, digital and social media:

• Michelin tire safety expert Sarah Robinson will appear live on The Weather Channel morning show "AMHQ" on Friday, May 22, to provide real-time tips and advice as drivers hit the road for Memorial Day weekend.
• Excerpts from Weather on-camera meteorologist and storm tracker Jim Cantore's recent visit to Michelin's state-of-the-art test facility and track in Laurens, S.C., highlighting his experiences with safe driving scenarios such as wet braking, avoiding spinouts and the importance of tire maintenance.
• Digital assets on the "Road Ready" section of weather.com, featuring video content from "AMHQ" and S.A.F.E.R. driving tips from Michelin.
• Michelin's monthly safe driving tips broadcast on The Weather Channel.
• On-screen quiz "Extreme Weather Driving Challenge" tests people's knowledge of how to react to various driving scenarios.

"Educating motorists about road safety always has been a top priority for Michelin. Joining The Weather Channel allows Michelin to help drivers understand how tire safety and weather safety are connected," said Lynne Fowler, brand manager for Michelin North America. "Tires are the only part of your vehicle that keep you connected to the road, so proper maintenance is critical for safety and performance, especially when weather conditions can change dramatically in a single day on an extended summer road trip."

"Ultimately, everyone wants to keep themselves and their families safe on the roads in bad weather conditions," said Cantore. "Spending time at the Michelin test track showed me what a difference basic tire maintenance and brand can make in how a car handles on wet roads."

Choosing the right tires and properly maintaining them helps enhance a vehicle's performance and improve road safety. For a S.A.F.E.R. journey ahead, Michelin offers the following tips to maximize driving safety while on the road in search of fun, sun and relaxation:

Safety starts with tread depth. Drivers cross in and out of pop-up summer downpours. Insufficient tread-depth results in less grip and longer stopping distances, especially on wet roads. Check your tires' tread depth before you hit the road. Click here to learn how easy it is to do this with a penny. And if you are in the market for new tires, consider the MICHELIN^® Premier^® A/S with EverGrip™ Technology, with a tread that evolves as it wears, making it safe when new and safe when worn.

Air pressure matters. Tires don't carry the weight of your vehicle, the tires' air pressure inside does. Underinflated tires provide less traction, reduce fuel efficiency, wear out prematurely, and most importantly, incur hard-to-see irreparable damage that compromises performance and safety. 

As a general rule, your tire pressure will gain or lose 1 PSI (pound per square inch) for every 10° F change in temperature — and motorists can see dramatic temperature swings in a single day of summer driving. Check your tires' air pressure when tires are "cold"' in the morning and compare to the placard on the doorjamb before hitting the road for vacation travel. 

Four tires should match. All tires are not created equal. Mixing tires of different brands, tread depths and performance categories can greatly reduce vehicle stability. If you can replace only two new tires, most tire professionals recommend installing them on the rear. Rear tires provide stability, and without stability, steering or braking on a wet or damp surface might cause a spin.

Ease your load. Overloading your vehicle can create excessive heat inside your tires, which can cause severe damage that leads to tire stress and failure. Follow the manufacturer's loading recommendation on the vehicle information placard on the doorjamb or in the vehicle owners' manual.

Rain means slow down. Drive with two hands in wet weather, slow down before turning and maintain a consistent speed. Under deceleration, the front contact patches of your tires get larger, and are better able to handle cornering forces, providing better traction.

For more information and additional tips on safe driving, visit: www.michelinman.com.

About National Tire Safety Week
National Tire Safety Week is an initiative of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and its members that aims to educate consumers nationwide about essential tire safety maintenance practices. In its 14th year, the annual event is part of the "Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART" program, a year-round effort designed to help drivers learn the simple steps they can take to ensure that their tires are in good working condition.

About Michelin North America
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,750 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants.

The Weather Channel: It's Amazing Out There @weatherchannel 
For more than 30 years, The Weather Channel has inspired viewers to explore, investigate and appreciate the experience of weather in all its forms. Every weekday morning it features the three biggest names in weather, Al Roker, Sam Champion and Jim Cantore on "Wake Up with Al" and "AMHQ." It is the leader in severe weather coverage, providing the most comprehensive coverage of any media outlet, and with more than 200 meteorologists who analyze, forecast and report the weather, its expertise is unrivaled.

For more information or images please visit www.MichelinMedia.com 

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SOURCE Michelin North America

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