Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tire Expands Driving Performance Without Compromise

CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA, Barcelona, Spain, March 1 -- The green flag is out to signal the start of Michelin North America's "Year of Performance" with the official launch of the Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Sport PS2(TM) ultra-high-performance tire. The first of four new performance tires scheduled to be introduced to the replacement market in 2004, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire is designed to expand driving performance without compromising key attributes like wet and dry grip, cornering and durability.

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire goes on sale at authorized Michelin dealers in the United States and Canada March 1, 2004, and in Mexico on April 5, 2004. It will be available in 59 sizes, beginning with 33 at introduction and the remainder to be introduced throughout 2004.

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire is already factory-fitted on the Porsche Carrera GT, 996 GT2 & GT3, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, BMW Alpina Z8, Bugatti Veyron, Chrysler Crossfire, Audi RS6 and TT.

In much the same way that Michelin approaches its motorsports competitions, tire engineers and designers created a street tire that delivers winning performances. Enthusiasts who want to experience the excitement of high-performance driving now have a new benchmark against which to compare other products.

Michelin let the thrill of victory challenge its developers.

"As a result, we have borrowed some of the methods, features and techniques used in the research and development of competition tires," said Pascal Couasnon, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Small Tires. "We are confident that performance enthusiasts will appreciate this tire for its ability to provide an exhilarating driving experience."

Lessons that Michelin has learned during its decades-long work with automakers in top forms of motorsports have been key to the development of the new tire. Most notably, the new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire features a four-groove tread pattern. Reminiscent of the looks of a Formula One tire, the new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tread footprint is designed to create a larger and more stable contact patch compared to the previous generation Michelin Pilot Sport tire.

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire also features the unique "Variable Contact Patch" system. The architecture and construction of the tire actually places more rubber in contact with the road during extreme cornering in order to greatly enhance grip and performance.

The pace-setting Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire relies on these additional innovations to deliver superior performance:

* Asymmetric tread design in combination with dual tread compounding optimizes wet and dry performance.

* Endurance racing-influenced softer, stickier compounding that maximizes dry grip without compromising tread life.

* Development and production in Clermont Ferrand, France, where all Michelin race tires are designed and produced.

The next round in Michelin's Year of Performance begins in June 2004 with the introduction of two new products, the Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Exalto PE2(TM) tire and the Michelin(R) Pilot(R) XGT Z4(TM) tire. The Michelin(R) Pilot(R) Alpin(R) PA2(TM) tire will be introduced in August 2004.

Michelin 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 Inc. (www.michelinman.com ) employs 23,920 and operates 21 plants in 17 locations.