Michelin Supports America's First Responders With Driving America's Safety Initiative

Nominate Your Local Firefighter or EMT to Receive New Tires for an Emergency Service Vehicle

GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 16 -- Every thirty seconds a 911 call is answered in the United States. Firefighters and EMS personnel across the country respond to more than 500,000 emergency calls every day, with volunteers comprising 73 percent of the crews answering these calls. Communities rely on these heroes to be their first line of defense, responding to medical emergencies, fires and rescue efforts.

As part of its continued commitment to social and corporate responsibility, Michelin today announced the Driving America's Safety program. In addition to supplying drivers with road safety tips, the program provides consumers the opportunity to thank local firefighters and EMS personnel by nominating them to receive a donation of a full set of new tires for an emergency services vehicle -- from ambulances and fire engines to small rescue trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Fire departments and EMS squads across the country continually face financial restraints and maintenance issues. Michelin's Driving America's Safety program enables consumers to play a role in ensuring the vehicles for their community's first responders are outfitted in the safest and most reliable tires. By visiting the Michelin Web site (www.michelinman.com), consumers can obtain information on how to nominate a local firefighter or EMT to be chosen as one of 25 who will receive a new set of Michelin tires for their department.

"For many of us, general safety measures like police and fire departments, as well as good tires and seat belts, provide us with peace of mind," said Parmeet Grover, Michelin brand director, Michelin Americas Small Tires. "We're encouraging consumers to take a few extra minutes to think about their safety on the roads and at home. Everyone can take simple steps, including supporting the local heroes who protect their families -- firefighters and EMTs."

Take Advice from the Professionals -- Outfit Your Car with the Best Equipment

Michelin is the brand of tires that gives you and those around you the freedom of mobility with ultimate confidence, because Michelin passionately engineers each tire to provide an uncompromising combination of safety, performance, efficiency, and pleasure. Michelin's focus on performance and safety result in the industry's most innovative and most durable products -- for emergency vehicles and the family car.

For drivers everywhere -- whether they are moms, dads, firefighters or EMTs -- safety on the road is an important issue. In addition to affording consumers ultimate confidence when behind the wheel, Michelin has developed a number of simple tips to help consumers protect their car and their precious cargo:

  * Once a month and before a long trip, ensure your tires are inflated to
    the correct pressure, as indicated on the vehicle manufacturer sticker
    located on the door jamb or in the owner's manual.  As many as one in
    four vehicles on the road currently have underinflated tires.

  * Check the tire-tread depth by placing a penny upside down in your tire's
    shallowest groove. If you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, you
    have less than 2/32nds of an inch in tread depth and it is time to buy
    new tires.

  * Always wear a seat belt and make sure all passengers are buckled
    properly.  In the event of an accident, wearing a seat belt will
    decrease your chance of harm by 50 percent.  More than 17,000 people are
    saved in car crashes each year by wearing a seat belt.

  * Be alert.  If you're showing signs of fatigue when driving, pull over in
    a safe area and let someone else drive.

  * Avoid taking your eyes off the road.  Whenever possible, eliminate
    distractions ahead of time.  Make sure important items like maps,
    directions or sunglasses are within reach.

  * Proper alignment is important. Have your suspension realigned when you
    buy new tires or notice uneven wear. Poor alignment can very quickly
    wear out tires and adversely affect gas mileage.

"Safe driving for consumers, like firefighters, begins with the person behind the wheel -- from wearing a seat belt to making sure the vehicle is maintained properly from the tires on up," said William Goldfeder, E.F.O., deputy chief of the Loveland-Symmes, Ohio, Fire Department and contributing editor to Firehouse magazine. "This program from Michelin helps us continue to protect the community, while also giving people a chance to play a role in our efforts."

How to Nominate Your Local First Responders

Beginning Aug. 15, 2006, consumers can nominate their local heroes by developing a minimum 300-word essay describing why a local firefighter or EMT should receive one set of Michelin tires for an emergency response vehicle.

Nominations will be evaluated on a 100-point scale using selected criteria, including:

  * Financial need of the EMS squad or fire department

  * Compelling stories on the impact the firefighter or EMT has on the
    community

  * Type of apparatus the department uses

Completed nominations can be sent to Michelin via email at michelinman@cohnwolfe.com or via the U.S. Postal Service:

    Michelin's Driving America's Safety Program
    c/o Cohn & Wolfe
    292 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
    New York, N.Y. 10017

All nominations must be postmarked by Oct. 31, 2006, and received by Nov. 10, 2006. Additional information can be found at www.michelinman.com.

The world's largest tire maker, Michelin (www.michelinman.com) 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, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs 22,270 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com.