Tire Expert Advises Spring Breakers Not to Tread Lightly; Offers Tire Tips for Safe Travel

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 14 -- One of the snowiest seasons in recent memory is giving-way to warmer weather, which means that spring break is just around the corner. With thousands of high-school and college students preparing for vacations across the country, the tire experts at Michelin offer tire safety advice to all those traveling by car in the next few months.

A recent Michelin study revealed that a surprising 28 percent of young people ages 18-30 have never changed a tire, the highest percentage of any age group surveyed. In addition, more than one-quarter (26%) do not own a tire gauge for checking the air pressure in their tires.

"Students often travel long distances in packed cars when heading to their spring break destinations, pushing their tires to the limits during these extended road trips," says Mac Demere, Michelin test track driver. "We want to make people aware that it's important, for safety reasons, to thoroughly inspect their tires especially before taking long trips."

To help spring breakers get off to a good start, Demere offers several tips to ensure safe travels:

  * Check tire pressure monthly and before any trip -- Before hitting the
    road, make sure that you have a tire gauge on hand and know how to use
    it.  Low tire pressure makes a new tire perform like an old, worn-out
    tire.  Look for the car-maker's recommended tire pressure setting on the
    driver's door jamb or on the glove compartment door.  Additionally,
    under-inflated or over-inflated tires can adversely affect gas mileage.

  * Ride on quality tires -- It's better to have high quality tires on an
    economy car, than low quality tires on a high-priced, high-performance
    vehicle.

  * Rotate tires properly -- If money is tight and you buy only two new
    tires, place them on the rear axle.  Otherwise, your car could lose rear
    traction in the rain and spin out.

  * Check tire tread depth -- In most states, the minimum legal tread depth
    is 2/32 of an inch.  If you place a penny in your tire's most shallow
    groove and you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to
    buy new tires.

  * Proper alignment is important -- Get your car's suspension realigned
    when you buy new tires, if you notice uneven wear or if it has been a
    while since your last alignment.  A suspension that is not aligned
    properly can wear out new tires after only a few thousand miles and
    adversely affect gas mileage.

"As a Michelin test track driver, I handle all kinds of cars on all kind of tires, and I know that a little preventive maintenance will save you a lot of time, money and aggravation in the long run," says Demere. "It's important for drivers to feel confident behind the wheel. Knowing that your tires are in good condition can help build confidence and, most importantly, will help ensure a safe trip."

Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks 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 24,640 and operates 22 plants in 18 locations.

For information on selecting the right tires for your vehicle visit tireadvisor.com and additional tire care tips visit www.michelinman.com.