GREENVILLE, S.C., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for unmatched customer satisfaction every year since the tire awards began, but for all of its product superiority, there are some things that even Michelin can't do, like check the tire pressure and tread wear on your vehicle every month.
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Michelin marks the beginning of National Tire Safety Week, April 22-28, 2007, by encouraging drivers to keep tire maintenance top of mind during the upcoming summer travel season and throughout the year. Michelin will also kick-off year two of Michelin's Driving America's Safety program for first responders on April 23 as part of its broader tire safety awareness and education campaign that will run throughout the summer and fall.
"The Michelin Driving America's Safety program impacts safety on the roads in a very tangible way by ensuring that emergency responder vehicles are riding on Michelin tires and we are increasing our support for fire departments and EMS squads that face financial constraints by doubling the amount of winners for 2007," said Parmeet Grover, Michelin brand director. "The collection of stories we received in 2006 came from all over the nation including a small school in Ashland, Oregon who submitted letters from 3rd - 8th grade students to spouses and co-workers who recognized their local heroes' dedication to safety in their community."
Starting April 23, 2007, communities and individuals across America can play a role in ensuring that the safest and most reliable tires are on an emergency vehicle for their community by nominating first responders for a new set of Michelin(R) tires. The nomination process is detailed on http://www.michelinman.com.
In addition to affording ultimate confidence when behind the wheel, Michelin wants to empower drivers everywhere with the tools and information they need to help keep them safe on the road. By visiting http://www.michelinman.com/forward and selecting "Your Safety", viewers can have a glimpse inside 'A Better Way Forward' and experience the safety simulator with the Michelin Man. Videos that demonstrate "How to Survive a Tire Blowout" and "Stay in Control" show why it's critical to have new tires mounted on the rear of a vehicle versus new tires on the front.
Check Tire Pressure to Increase Gas Mileage and Driving Stability
Before any long trip and once month, check the pressure of each tire with a tire gauge or stop by your local tire dealer or service station. Under- inflated tires will make your tire wear unevenly and may shorten tire life.
In addition you can greatly impact fuel consumption -- four million gallons a day! That's how many gallons of gas the U.S. Department of Energy estimates could be saved if every vehicle in the United States had properly inflated tires. Drivers could reduce total annual fuel consumption by billions of barrels. The car maker's recommended tire pressure can be found in several places including near the driver's door jamb, on the glove compartment door or in the owner's manual.
Check Tire Tread Depth for Grip and Replace Worn Tires to Avoid Accidents
If you place a penny with the top of the head facing down into your tires' shallowest groove and you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, the tire's grip is not sufficient and is unsafe. Always remember that if you only replace two tires at a time, mount the new tires on the rear axle to avoid losing traction in the rain, which can cause spin outs and increase the potential for accidents.
Schedule Tire Rotation and Suspension Alignment to Increase Tire Longevity
Have your car's suspension re-aligned when you buy new tires, especially if you notice uneven wear or if it's been more then 10,000 miles since your last alignment. Also ask your tire dealer to rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Regular rotation extends the life of your tires which is better for the environment, makes your vehicle safer and lowers overall tire maintenance costs. Michelin has developed an interactive tire rotation guide available at http://www.michelinman.com/care/tip2.html
National Tire Safety week is an initiative backed by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and its members that aims to educate consumers nationwide about essential tire safety maintenance.
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, 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.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.
For more information, visit http://www.michelinmedia.com or contact:
Tonya Polydoroff
Michelin North America
office: 1 864 458 4511
e-mail: tonya.polydoroff@us.michelin.com
North America
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