Michelin Receives 29th J.D. Power and Associates Award

           Tiremaker Receives Three Out of Four Awards for the Year

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 27 J.D. Power and Associates
announced today that Michelin has received the 2001 Best Original Equipment
Tire in Highest Customer Satisfaction for Passenger Vehicles among buyers in
the U.S.  The latest honor brings to 29 the total number of awards the brand
has amassed since 1989 -- more than all other tire manufacturers combined.

    Just weeks ago, the Michelin brand swept the replacement tire customer
satisfaction awards, receiving both Passenger Car and Light Truck honors from
J.D. Power and Associates.  Michelin has received more than 75 percent of the
38 awards in the history of the tire category and is the only tire brand to
receive a J.D. Power and Associates Award every year since the overall tire
studies began 12 years ago.  But despite its record of achievement, the brand
takes nothing for granted, according to brand manager David Jones.

    "An award such as the ones from J.D. Power and Associates never becomes
routine and every time we receive one it's special," Jones said.  "We're
committed to building the best tires in the world and each J.D. Power award
tells us that, in the minds of our customers, we're doing things right."

    Michelin brand's J.D. Power and Associates award history:
    -- Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles in Customer Satisfaction
       1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001
    -- Best Replacement Tire for Light Trucks in Customer Satisfaction
       1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001
    -- Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles in Customer
       Satisfaction 1994, 1995, 1996 (tie), 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
    -- Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles in Customer
       Satisfaction 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000
    -- Best Overall Original Equipment Tire in Customer Satisfaction 1989,
       1990, 1991 and 1993*

    (* After 1993, this category was split into Best OE Tire for Passenger
     Vehicle/Light Truck Satisfaction)