Michelin Helps Motorists Cut Carbon Emissions

STOKE-ON-TRENT, UNITED KINGDOM – October 25, 2010: Michelin has helped nearly 5,000 motorists save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions this summer as part of its annual Fill Up With Air campaign.

The event, which has been touring the UK since May and shows drivers the importance of keeping tyres at the correct pressure, has reduced the annual CO2 emissions of participating drivers by around 145 tonnes.*

Not only this but it is also estimated to have reduced the 4,753 drivers’ annual fuel consumption by more than 12,700 gallons and saved them around £70,000 a year on their fuel bills. This is in addition to increased tyre wear and the added costs of replacing incorrectly inflated tyres more frequently.

Based on these sample figures, if every car in the UK was running on correctly inflated tyres then the nation could save a massive £440 million pounds on fuel and reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 1,000,000 tonnes a year**.

As well as the negative environmental impact, driving with the wrong tyre pressures can affect a vehicle’s handling, putting the safety of its occupants and other road users at risk. It also puts more stress on the vehicle’s steering and suspension components leading to possible wear and additional maintenance costs.

Michelin’s head of communications, Peter Snelling, said: “The Fill Up With Air campaign has been the biggest to date, reaching thousands of motorists.

“Not only does driving with the wrong pressures have an effect on the environment, but it can seriously compromise safety. Tyres that are under inflated can cause poor handling on the road and potentially lead to serious accidents and put lives at risk.

There are lots of ways that people can help to cut their carbon footprint and keeping tyres at the correct pressure is a simple and very cheap solution.”

In addition to the environmental effects the Fill Up With Air campaign found that more than 37 per cent of drivers in the UK were running on dangerous or very dangerous tyres*** and more than 5 per cent of motorists were driving with at least one punctured tyre.

Carbon dioxide is considered to be one of the main greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Around 45 per cent of the UK’s man-made CO2 emissions come from energy used every day, at home and through travel.

Michelin is urging drivers to check their tyres pressures not only as part of Energy Saving Week which is running from 25 to 31 October, but also monthly and before a long journey.

The Energy Saving Week aims to help people to reduce their carbon emissions, whether that’s at home, work or whilst travelling.

More advice on choosing the correct tyre and how to keep it in tip top condition can be found on the Michelin website at: www.michelin.co.uk