National Press Release

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on a tradition of performance-proven products, Michelin engineers faced a daunting task in enhancing the capabilities of the Pilot(R) Sport(R) All-Season Plus tire. By combining new and improved technologies pioneered by Michelin, decades of experience in the ultra-high performance market and the brand's relentless obsession for innovation and excellence, the all-new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire offers the perfect combination of all-weather performance and extended tread life for high-end performance vehicles.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080625/LAW070)

"The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire provides everything a driving enthusiast needs in a tire," said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. "The improvements made on the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire allows for greater performance in dry and wet conditions, while still maintaining its capabilities in snow."

After an extensive research and development process, Michelin engineers identified three key focus areas to ensure maximum performance for the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire -- all-weather performance, wet grip and tread-life.

-- All-Weather Performance: To give the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire superior all-weather performance, a TriFusion(TM) Compound is used, the only UHP tire in the Michelin line-up to offer this technology. The TriFusion technology precisely places three specialized rubber compounds across the tread, helping elevate a car's performance in virtually every type of weather, from wet to dry to winter conditions. The result is class-leading all-weather performance.

-- Wet Grip: State-of-the-art directional tread pattern and wet-weather silica compound combine for extreme wet-weather control. The tapered grooves of symmetrical tread design channel water away from the tire's contact patch to provide excellent wet grip in wet conditions. The result is best-in-class wet grip.

-- Tread Life: Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires are the first to make use of the enhanced MaxTouch Construction(TM) technology, a tire design innovation that delivers dramatically improved tread life without sacrificing performance and is backed by a 45,000-mile manufacturer's limited warranty. The result is best-in-class tread life, without compromising performance.

Goubert adds, "The biggest challenge in the development of the second generation Pilot Sport All-Season tire was to achieve the highest level of performance, while drastically improving the tread life. We are confident with the results."

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire is especially designed to provide superior levels of all-weather capability, wet traction and improved wear for vehicles such as the C5 Corvette, Cadillac CTS, BMW S3, Lexus IS330, Mercedes C class and other high-performance vehicles.

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire goes on sale in the United States Sept. 1, 2008. It will be available in 59 sizes, 25 percent more sizes than the previous generation.

At launch, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire will be available in 29 sizes and the remainder will be introduced in March 2009. Complete sizing options will range from 205/55ZR16 up to 265/30ZR22.

"With the launch of the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tire and the expansion of the size offerings -- now including 22-inch, we are able to provide more consumers with the performance they desire," said Goubert.

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, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (http://www.michelin-us.com) employs more than 22,300 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

    For more information, visit http://www.michelinmedia.com or contact:

    Lynne Slovick
    Michelin North America, Inc.
    office: 1 864 458 6365
    mobile: 1 864 561.9914
    lynne.slovick@us.michelin.com

    Eric Booth
    Hill & Knowlton
    office: 1 949 223. 2330
    mobile: 1 562.252.6036
    e-mail: eric.booth@hillandknowlton.com

SOURCE Michelin North America, Inc.