Michelin And The Weather Channel Team Up To Promote Safe Driving

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of National Tire Safety Week (June 3-9), leading tire maker Michelin and The Weather Channel^® are encouraging motorists to stay safe on the road this travel season by following simple, yet effective tips designed to prepare even the most seasoned driver for a worry-free journey. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120604/NY18071)

Through "WeatherReady Car Clinics," a series of educational vignettes featured on TV and online, automotive experts and The Weather Channel meteorologists share information with viewers and demonstrate specific ways for drivers to take control behind the wheel and think ahead before taking to American roadways this summer.

"Road safety is a top priority at Michelin and partnering with The Weather Channel allows us to take a creative approach to amplify the message of safe driving," said Don Byrd, vice president of marketing for Michelin's passenger light-truck division. "Choosing the right tires and maintaining them throughout their lives is essential to driving safely in normal weather conditions, but it becomes even more important in inclement weather."

Aligning with Michelin's and The Weather Channel's dedication to road safety, the campaign extends across a variety of channels:

• Digital assets on the "WeatherReady" section of weather.com (www.weather.com/life/safety/weatheready) featuring content from TV programming and video tire care tips from Michelin.
• TV segments that demonstrate real-world safe driving scenarios.
• Excerpts from The Weather Channel's leading meteorologist Paul Goodloe visiting Michelin's test track in Laurens, S.C.
• Short-form TV vignettes on The Weather Channel offering "Michelin Safety Tips of the Day."

"Inclement weather is always a factor when you talk about the precautions motorists can take to be better prepared on the road," said Ann Brown, senior vice president, client solutions for The Weather Channel Companies. "Whether planning for a trip across town or across the country, knowing basic car maintenance and defensive driving tips are as essential as knowing the 36-hour forecast."

In addition to vehicle maintenance and practicing safe driving habits, Michelin offers the following tire safety tips:

Check Tire Inflation

• Proper inflation is essential for the performance and longevity of a tire. Under-inflated tires will wear unevenly and negatively impact performance. In addition, keeping tire pressure at the recommended level can boost fuel efficiency by one mile per gallon. The Department of Transportation estimates that 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure.
• Be sure to properly check all four tires once a month and before a long trip - it's difficult to tell if a tire is under inflated just by looking at it. If it actually looks under inflated, it is severely under inflated.
• Do not inflate tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire's sidewall.  The optimum tire pressure required can be found on a sticker in the vehicle's door jamb, on the inside of the glove compartment door or in the owner's manual. 
• Check the pressure when the tires are cold - first thing in the morning is best. Many gas stations have free tire pressure gauges and air-filling facilities or, purchase your own tire gauge (a digital pressure gauge is recommended).

Rotate Tires Regularly

• Regular rotation helps extend tire life, saving time and money in the long run.  For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from the vehicle and moved to a different position.  Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Full-size spare tires should be included in the rotation process. Rotations can be done at oil lube stations or mechanic shops. 

Keep Proper Vehicle Alignment

• Alignment generally refers to the adjustment of a vehicle's front and rear suspension parts. Proper alignment helps ensure that the vehicle handles correctly and will help increase the life and performance of the tires. Alignments can be done in conjunction with a tire rotation at oil lube stations or mechanic shops. 

Check Tire Tread Depth

• In most states, the minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 of an inch. If you place a penny with the top of Abraham Lincoln's head facing down into your tires' shallowest groove and you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires.

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 11^th  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 The Weather Channel Companies

The Weather Channel companies (TWCC) are made up of The Weather Channel® television network, The Weather Channel digital properties, and WSI. The Weather Channel is based in Atlanta and is seen in more than 100 million U.S. households. TWCC also operates Weatherscan®, a 24-hour all-local weather network; The Weather Channel Radio Network; and The Weather Channel HD. The most popular source of weather news and information, TWCC properties reach 60 million monthly Web consumers (weather.com and Desktop) and 32 million monthly mobile users (mobile Web and applications) and offers the second most popular mobile app on all smartphones. WSI, headquartered in Andover, MA, primarily provides business-to-business weather services, particularly for the media, aviation, marine and energy sectors. TWCC is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.weather.com/press  

About Michelin

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 22,200 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

For more information, visit www.michelinman.com

SOURCE Michelin North America