Michelin Helps Canadian Drivers Stay Safe This Summer

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May 02, 2013, 12:10 ET

Online safe driving tips stress importance of preparation and education

LAVAL, QC, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - With summer just around the corner, Canadian families will soon take to the open road. Now is a good time for summer road-trippers to brush up on the important tips that can contribute to safe driving as they explore the great Canadian outdoors or enjoy an urban adventure.

Michelin Canada encourages drivers to minimize the risk of on-road emergencies simply by preparing ahead of time, conducting proper safety checks and adhering to safe driving tips.

Check Your Tires: After all, your tires are the only part of your car that touches the road.

Check your tires for wear - Using the 'Penny Test,' put the edge of the coin into the tread with the Queen going in head first. If the top of the Queen's head is covered by tread, that's good. If the top of her head is entirely visible, it's time to replace the tire.
Check the air pressure - Tires have been known to lose up to 1 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure every month. Use a proper pressure guage to check pressure when tires are 'cold' (before driving or three hours after driving). Make sure your tires are inflated to the psi on the sticker inside the driver's door of your car. DO NOT compare to the psi on your tire's sidewall.
Don't mix tires - If you're replacing only two new tires instead of four, be sure they are the same size and type as the current ones. Always install the new tires on the rear axle of your vehicle, which will reduce the risk of fishtailing and loss of stability in wet conditions.

Wet Driving: Wet road conditions present dangers of less grip and longer stopping distance.

Slow down. Slowing down dramatically decreases the risk of accidents in rain.
Always drive with two hands on the steering wheel
Slow down before turning and maintain a consistent speed throughout the turn.
While turning, don't make sudden steering wheel movements.
Only brake in a straight line before the turn and do so gradually. Do not brake during the turn.
Increase your following distance from other cars to allow for more stopping range.
If hydroplaning, do not accelerate or brake suddenly. Keep your foot lightly on the gas and steer the car forward until your tires regain traction.

Blowouts: This can be one of the most frightening moments on the road.

As prevention, always drive with both hands on the wheel.
If you have a tire blowout, don't panic. The loud noise will startle you, but follow these rules, and you'll quickly and safely regain control. First, keep your foot on the gas, grip the wheel firmly and stay in your lane, then, slow down gradually and carefully steer toward the shoulder of the road.

''Safety is our guiding principle at Michelin, and we are fully committed to helping drivers be as safe on the road as possible," says Adam Murphy, Marketing Director, Michelin Canada, "From offering Canadian families the best standard passenger car tire we have ever made -- the Michelin Defender -- to a comprehensive list of safety tips on our website, we're doing all we can to help Canadians have a safe driving season."

For more tips on safe driving, visit http://www.michelin.ca/tires-101/driving-and-safety-tips/driving-tips.page

Make driving safety a priority this summer …

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 people and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

About MICHELIN® Defender™
MICHELIN® Defender™ offers a 145,000 kilometer warranty^3. It stops up to nine meters shorter than a leading competitor¹, equating to approximately two car lengths. Michelin's proprietary MaxTouchConstruction™ technology enables the tire to wear evenly and last up to 33,000 kilometers longer than a leading competitor². The MICHELIN® Defender™, marked with MICHELIN's GREEN X® designation, provides greater fuel-efficiency and potential savings of up to $336 in fuel @ $1.25/liter over the life of the tires⁴.

Visit the Michelin Tire Selector on www.michelin.ca to find the right tire for you.

About the Michelin Promise Plan
North American consumers who purchase a set of four MICHELIN® tires will automatically receive the Michelin Promise Plan™, the first offer of its kind in the tire industry. The Michelin Promise Plan offers a free 30-day satisfaction guarantee and three-year, flat-tire changing assistance. In addition, all standard Michelin passenger and light-truck tires (replacement and original equipment) are covered by a limited warranty for treadwear.

Based on internal wet braking test results versus Goodyear® Assurance® ComforTred® Touring tires size 185/65R15.
Based on commissioned third party wear test results versus Continental® Pro Contact™ ECO Plus Technology tire size 215/60R16.
145,000-kilometer warranty for T-rated tires; See michelinman.com for details.
Based on fuel efficiency estimates from rolling resistance testing versus the Yokohama® Avid® TRZ 215/60R16 over the warranted 145,000-kilometer treadlife of the MICHELIN® Defender™ tire. Actual on-road savings may vary.

SOURCE: Michelin Canada