Michelin, Youth Bat for Road Safety

Michelin Philippines reiterated its commitment to road safety alongside its counterparts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Stockholm from February 19-20.
The conference was organized by Youths For Road Safety (YOURS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Young delegates shared their successes and lessons learned from actions undertaken in the framework of the 2011-2020 Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety. It was an opportunity to link safe mobility with other sustainably-related challenges.

In Stockholm, Michelin invited three young employees from India, Thailand and Brazil to attend the Second World Youth Assembly as representatives of the private sector and participate in road safety-related decision-making. Their role was to share their experiences and raise awareness among Michelin teams in their respective regions about the best safer mobility solutions.

Findings showed that the 15-29 age group is the demographic most impacted by road accidents. Thus in 2010, Michelin collaborated with WHO to create YOURS, an NGO focusing on young people that encourages them to address road safety issues in both developed and developing countries. YOURS has set an ambitious road safety target to halve road deaths and injuries globally in five years, with young people leading the charge and providing energy to the revolution. As Founding Member of YOURS, Michelin and YOURS have a long-term partnership and are working together to improve road safety for young people worldwide.

Florent Menegaux, Michelin CEO, said safety is at the heart of “everything we do”. “It is a top priority every day across all our sites. For our customers, Michelin is synonymous with safety, reliability, performance and durability. And for 130 years, we have worked tirelessly to uphold this reputation. We believe it is our responsibility to make mobility safer across the world.”

In the Philippines, Michelin does its part for road safety by raising awareness on the importance of correct tire pressure, proper maintenance and fuel efficiency through its “Michelin Safe On The Road (MSOR) campaign. Michelin Philippines has partnered with S&R membership shopping club to render service to motorists by giving them free tire check-ups and information on how to maximize tire usage. The importance of awareness in reducing the risk of road accidents to ensure a safer and more liveable community for all is emphasized to motorists in MSOR.

About the Michelin Group:

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 127,000 employees and operates 69 tire production facilities which together produced around 200 million tires in 2019. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN TO MAKE PLAYSTATION’S GRAN TURISMO SPORT EVEN MORE GRIPPING FOR GAMERS

Michelin Chief Representative to the Philippines Michael Nunag announced today that PlayStation has selected Michelin as “official tire technology partner” for its Gran Turismo franchise, the best and most authentic driving game.

Under the multi-year agreement, Michelin becomes “official tire supplier” of FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships, with Michelin-branded tires featured in the game during its third World Tour live event also in progress at PlayStation Theater throughout the weekend.

The relationship begins by increasing Michelin’s visibility through free downloadable content on Gran Turismo Sport available to users by October 2019. The Michelin-themed download will feature for the first time:
A new Michelin section on the Gran Turismo Sport “Brand Central” virtual museum, which introduces players to Michelin’s deep history in global motorsports, performance and innovation.

Tire technology by Michelin available in the “Tuning” section of Gran Turismo Sport, applicable to the game’s established hard, medium and soft formats.
On-track branding elements and scenography from many of the world’s most celebrated motorsports competitions and venues.

In 1895, the Michelin brothers entered a purpose-built car in the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris motor race to prove the performance of air-filled tires. Since that storied race, Michelin has achieved a record of innovation and ultra-high performance in the most demanding and celebrated racing competitions around the world, including 22 consecutive overall wins at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans and more than 330 FIA World Rally Championship victories.

Through racing series such as FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIA Formula E and International Motor Sports Association series in the U.S., Michelin uses motorsports as a laboratory to collect vast amounts of real-world data that power its industry-leading models and simulators for tire development. Tire technologies proven on the track eventually transfer to road-going performance vehicles like many of those on screen in Gran Turismo.
Michelin will share this knowledge openly with Sony in the first co-development exchange of its kind, aiming to provide Gran Turismo players with a new dimension of strategy and competition linked to tire selection and performance, drawing ever closer to the pit-level decisions that race teams evaluate on every track.

“This relationship is a perfect match, connecting the most successful virtual driving experience with the global leader for high-performance tires,” said Scott Clark, executive vice president of the Americas region for Michelin Group, responsible for the Company’s global automotive, motorsports and experiences business segments.

“Michelin leads the industry in tire simulation,” Clark said. “Michelin develops and tunes virtual tires on virtual vehicles before the tires are even produced, with extremely accurate translation to real tires on real vehicles. Combining this technology with real motorsports data will enable Sony to bring more tire strategy into the game, and in the longer term, also helps more people understand the critical role that Michelin tires play in optimizing vehicle performance.”
“The FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships is founded on a technical base established through 25 years of automotive physics simulation within Gran Turismo, and the unique automotive culture it has achieved over the years. With its passion for motorsports and solid engineering knowledge, having Michelin, the world’s leading tire brand, come on board as an official tire supplier of The Championships and technical partner helps us continue our vision of bridging the gap between virtual and real racing. The partnership also further highlights these events as the future of motorsports,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, series Producer and President of Polyphony Digital Inc.

Further information and images can be found at: https://michelinmedia.com/gran-turismo/

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 125,000 employees and operates 67 tire production facilities, which together produced around 190 million tires in 2018. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN INTRODUCES ‘MICHELIN ENERGY XM2+’, THE STOPPING SUPERPOWER FOR SMALL- AND MID-SIZE PASSENGER CARS

Michelin, the world’s leading tire company, unveiled the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ with the tagline: “Your Stopping Superpower” at the Manila Polo Club September 11. Targeting young and budget-conscious consumers looking for tires with safety and performance that last, the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is the ideal fitment for small- and mid-size passenger cars. Developed to outperform its previous generation in wet braking, the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ offers ultimate safety – both when new, and throughout its useful life.

Michael Nunag, Michelin Chief Representative to the Philippines revealed that: “The MICHELIN Energy XM2+ improves, in various aspects, on its predecessor – the MICHELIN Energy XM2, which has been a leading mass-market tire for 8 consecutive years. Its performance is made to last. Also, the tire’s “Stopping Superpower” is preserved at a high level, even when the tire has been used for a long time. As its advertising campaign goes, MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is a “Stopping Superpower”, keeping consumers safe and confident on the road, time after time.”

Nunag explained that the MICHELIN Energy XM2+, with a new full-silica rubber compound, provides shorter wet braking distances by 1.5 meters when new, and by 2.6 meters when worn, compared to the average of other premium tire manufacturers*. The tire also offers longer mileage that outlasts other premium tire manufacturers** by 25%.

“The ‘+’ sign on the sidewall denotes the rubber compound upgrade that is behind the braking superiority of the MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus its predecessor. The tire also maintains the Green ‘X’ marking of its predecessor, indicating optimized fuel savings. We hope the combination of enhanced safety and superior value-for-money will particularly appeal to the younger consumers,” Nunag added.

The new MICHELIN Energy XM2+ is now available at Michelin’s authorized dealers across the nation in 36 sizes, from 14- to 16-inch diameter. For more information, please visit www.michelin.com.ph

*Wet braking test 80 to 0 kph, conducted by TUV Rheinland Thailand Ltd (an independent 3rd party), on Michelin’s request, in Nov 2018 at Nongnooch Garden Chonburi, Thailand, on dimension 205/55R16 on Toyota Altis. Comparing NEW and WORN MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus four other brands of tires (figures represent the average of 4 other premium brands). Reference: TUV Rheinland Thailand Ltd, Technical Report No. 1203058671 001 and 002. WORN condition: tires tested at 2mm remaining tread depth.

** Longevity test conducted by China Automotive Technology and Reseach Center Co.,Ltd (CATARC) (an independent 3rd party), on Michelin's request, in September 2018 in TianJin, China, on dimension 205/55 R16 91V on VolksWagen GOLF7 comparing MICHELIN Energy XM2+ versus Premium Competitors (figures represent the average of 5 other premium brands). Longevity test run in average real usage with 20,000 km run and estimated longevity at the depth of Tread Wear Indicator.

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About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 117,400 employees and operates 121 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. The Group has a Research and Development Center located in Europe, North America and Asia. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN TIRES NOW AVAILABLE AT MITSUBISHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES’ AFTER SALES SERVICES

Michelin tires and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines have joined hands to make after sales service at Mitsubishi service centers much more convenient for customers. 

Mitsubishi has begun to offer a range of Michelin tires at Alpine Motors, its Carmona Mitsubishi dealership and service center in Cavite. The offering seeks to provide car owners the convenience of finding major car products like tires at the dealership, apart from car accessories and after sales services, both major and minor. Other Mitsubishi dealers are expected to follow suit.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) in a statement said it is continuously looking for ways to innovate the products and services that it offers its customers.

“We want to be a one-stop-shop for all our customers’ vehicle requirements so we decided to open our doors to partnering with only the best brands in the tire industry to supply our after market requirements since cars and tires go hand in hand,” the MMPC said.

Martin D. Gonzales, President and General Manager of Alpine Motors says his Mitsubishi dealership “wants to answer all their customers’ vehicle needs as much as possible. During after sales service, some customers want to change their tires. We don’t want them to go elsewhere just to find them. We want them to know they can find whatever they need right here because we’re looking after their needs. We want to make life easier for them by making sure they have everything they need for their vehicles in one place – from aircon cleaning to wheel alignment and balancing to change oil to repair to a paint job, and now tires.”

Michael Nunag, Michelin Chief Representative in the Philippines says that the partnership can only benefit both parties. “We at Michelin always look after the safety of the motorists which is also the MMPC’s priority. We are very pleased to be partnering with a company that shares our values and we look forward to having a long partnership with them.”

For now Michelin Primacy SUV 265/65R17 and 265/60R18; Michelin Energy XM2 175/65R14 and 185/55R15 and BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Drive 165/65R14 are now available at the Alpine Motors dealership in Carmona. More tire sizes will be added to the lineup soon.

SIZES:

265/65R17 Michelin Primacy SUV

265/60R18 Michelin Primacy SUV

175/65R14 Michelin Energy XM 2

185/55R15 Michelin Energy XM 2

165/65R14 BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Drive

About Michelin Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN REVEALS THE NEW ‘MICHELIN PRIMACY 4’ UNDER THE BREAKTHROUGH CONCEPT:‘SAFE WHEN NEW, SAFE WHEN WORN’

Michelin, the world’s leading tire company, is revolutionizing the Philippines’ local tire market with the recent launch of its latest generation tire in the Primacy range: MICHELIN Primacy 4. As the concept ‘Safe When New, Safe When Worn’ suggests, the tire provides lasting safety and excellent performance in both new and worn states, throughout its entire life cycle. Moreover, it also serves as a reference of silent tires that provide the ultimate driving comfort and experience.

Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of Michelin Philippines revealed: “A tire’s grip and braking performance – especially on wet roads – is critical to road safety in our country. Filipino consumers today choose their tires based on their characteristics when they are new. But what happens to grip and braking performance after 50,000 kilometers, or after a few years of use? In the tire industry performance tests are typically conducted on new products. Michelin is a step ahead. We want to demonstrate that our performance is maintained with mileage and time”, Nunag added.

Michelin commissioned TÜV Rheinland Thailand Limited to test new and worn MICHELIN Primacy 4 tires on wet roads, as well as new and worn tires of other premium brands. The findings were very impressive: on wet roads, Michelin Primacy 4 tires brake 2.5 meters shorter when new, and 5.1 meters shorter when worn, versus the other premium brands. Even more surprisingly, it was found that worn Primacy 4 tires brake 1.8 meters shorter than brand new tires of some other premium brands.

The new MICHELIN Primacy 4 comes with two innovative technologies that took 3 years to design. Firstly, the EverGrip™ Technology, consisting of two features: A new sculpture that provides increased water evacuation space by 50% for wet grip as the tire wears with usage, which allows the tire to still safely grip wet roads even when worn. A new-generation rubber compound, which – by bonding rubber and silica more strongly and evenly together – provides uniform energy dissipation upon contact with the road, resulting in better grip on wet roads, even when worn.

Secondly, the 2^nd-Generation Silent Rib Technology featuring inter-locking bands to minimize the deformation of tread blocks as the tire is rolling. This reduces air pumping sound effects for a more silent ride, and provides better shock absorption in response to road obstacles for a more comfortable ride.

“The new MICHELIN Primacy 4 addresses two major pain points of consumers in our country: safety journey after journey, due to unfavorable road conditions and rain-related accidents; and on comfort, due to challenging road and traffic conditions,” Nunag said. “Sustainability of our products is Michelin’s key corporate strategy. Instead of producing tires that are easily depleted, we strive to provide tires that provide safety and true value to consumers, while respecting the environment, throughout its full life cycle,”.

In the Philippines, the new MICHELIN Primacy 4 will be marketed from mid-August onwards; and will be available in 64 sizes, from 15- to 18-inch diameter, offering fitments for premium vehicles designed for safety and driving comfort. Michelin Primacy 4 is available at  ‘TYREPLUS’ and Michelin’s authorized dealers across the nation. For more information, please visit www.michelin.com.ph

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About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)

Michelin and Maxion Wheels Receive 2018 CLEPA Innovation Award for Cooperation

Michael Nunag, Michelin  Chief Representative, Philippines announced that Michelin, one of the world’s largest tire makers and Maxion Wheels, the world’s largest wheel manufacturer, received a 2018 CLEPA Innovation Award at this year’s European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) Innovation Award program.

The jury recognized the two companies’ joint innovation efforts that resulted in the latest wheel invention, the ACORUS Flexible Wheel, with third place in the “Cooperation” category during the June 13, 2018 award ceremony.

Pieter Klinkers, Chief Executive Officer of Maxion Wheels, accepted the award on behalf of the two companies and said, “The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation and collaboration is key to success in this fast-moving business environment. It not only strengthens and accelerates innovation, it enhances our knowledge and expertise. The ACORUS Flexible Wheel is the result of two global
leaders pooling their know-how to deploy the MICHELIN ACORUS Technology into an innovative product for the passenger car market.”

“Very early into the project, it became clear that we had to work together with Maxion Wheels and their wheel expertise, to bring this technology to the market quickly,” addedVincent Rousset-Rouvière, Executive Vice-President of the Original Equipment business line for passenger car tires at Michelin.

Introduced at the IAA Cars 2017 in Frankfurt, Germany, the ACORUS Flexible Wheel is a newly designed wheel-tire combination built to withstand tough road conditions and keep drivers and passengers safe. The patented new technology incorporates two flexible rubber flanges mounted on a special wheel body to create a flexible wheel that improves driving comfort and absorbs impacts from potholes and curbs.

In addition to damage reduction, safety and improved mobility, the ACORUS Flexible Wheel has further benefits for the driver. Besides improving both comfort and noise levels, there is also an environmental benefit in using MICHELIN ACORUS Technology. The Flexible Wheel is designed to work with any brand of tire, including low rolling resistance tires, which results in lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy. The innovative wheel solution also means fewer damaged tires and wheels will be thrown away following pothole damage.

The CLEPA Innovation Awards, organised in cooperation with Deloitte and with the support of the Dutch member RAI, celebrate outstanding achievements in the European automotive supply industry in the fields of Environment, Safety, Connectivity and Automation and Cooperation. For the first time, a special prize was awarded in each category to SMEs, acknowledging the important contribution of small and mid-sized companies to the industry’s resourcefulness, ingenuity and competitiveness.

For more information, please visit: https://clepa.eu/events/201806-clepa-innovation-awards/

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS (CLEPA)

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. It represents over 3.000 companies supplying state-of-the-art components and innovative technology for safe, smart and sustainable mobility, investing over 20 billion euros yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe employ nearly five million people across the continent. Based in Brussels, Belgium, CLEPA is recognized as the natural discussion partner by the European Institutions, United Nations and fellow associations (ACEA, JAMA, MEMA, etc.).

ABOUT MAXION WHEELS

Maxion Wheels, a division of IOCHPE-MAXION S.A., is a leading wheel manufacturer for passenger cars, light trucks, buses, commercial trucks and trailers. The Company also produces wheels for agriculture and military vehicles, as well as other off-highway applications. With more than 100 years of wheel-making experience and 10,000 employees globally, Maxion is the world's largest wheel manufacturer, producing 56 million wheels per year. The Company serves its global OEM customers from 28 locations in 15 countries on five continents, and has state-of-the-art technical centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

ABOUT MICHELIN

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)

MICHELIN’S SAFE ON THE ROAD CAMPAIGN AT S&R ASEANA, A SUCCESS

After the successful launch of this year’s Michelin Safe on the Road (MSoR) campaign at S&R Pampanga last April, motorists from the Metro were given the chance to get professional free-of-charge vehicle and tire check-ups at S&R Aseana in Baclaran last May 24-25. During the 2 day event, Michelin was able to check and inspect 50 cars for proper tire pressure and road safety.
The activity is a worldwide Michelin’s road safety awareness campaign formerly known as Fill Up With Air (FUWA) that makes motorists aware of the most basic step that they should take to ensure safe and efficient driving on city or country roads : proper tire pressure.
Mr. Michael Nunag, Chief Representative, Michelin Philippines says the Michelin ‘Safe on the Road’ campaign also aims to boost sustainable mobility. The free car and tire check service is expected to create awareness of road safety and regular inspection among drivers of public and personal cars.

Michelin Safe On The Road is a year round road safety awareness intiative which are scheduled to go around the country in the coming months. The next Michelin Safe on the Road (MSoR) stops will be at S&R Commonwealth (July 19-20), S&R Iloilo (August 16-17), S&R CDO (Oct. 18-19) and S&R Imus (Nov. 29-30).

About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 171 countries, has more than 114,000 employees and operates 70 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced around 190 million tires in 2017. (www.michelin.com)

'Michelin LTX Force' Ready to Shake the SUV and Light Truck Tire Market

No more trade-offs for drivers seeking for a tire with the combination of on- and off-road performance, as Michelin now introduces ‘MICHELIN LTX FORCE’ – an all-new tire for SUVs and light trucks that, in line with its tagline: “Whatever The Terrain, One Tire Handles It.”, comes with the best of Michelin’s on- and off-road technologies for multi-purpose use on all types of terrain.

“On a global scale, the SUV tire segment is growing larger in strategic importance. Over the past two years, it has outgrown the passenger car tire segment, and will continue to do so for the next five years. Our target drivers are people whose lifestyle, location or profession demand driving on and off-road, and need the best experience on both type of terrain.  So the launch of MICHELIN LTX FORCE reinforces our commitment not only to fulfill the needs and expectations of our customers with multiple exceptional performances, but also to respond to ever-changing market conditions in order to remain at the forefront of the industry,” said Michael Nunag, Chief Representative, Michelin Philippines.

Suitable for every terrain – ranging from asphalt highways, concrete roads, to unpaved, gravel, sand, and wet mud paths; the newly launched MICHELIN LTX FORCE tire features both on-road capabilities and off-road toughness. Its on-road capabilities are enabled by CompacTread Technology, whereby reinforcement between tread blocks increases the contact area with the ground, for better braking and safety; BevelTread Technology, whereby a rounded sloping edge cuts the peaks of noise power at the frequency which is sensitive to human ears, thus providing a peaceful ride; and CushionGuard Technology, which absorbs road imperfections for a more comfortable Its off-road toughness is enabled by Extended Sidewall Biting Edge, which improves the sidewall’s cut-chip resistance; plus Deep and Open Shoulder Design for off-road traction.

“Off-road technologies behind the MICHELIN LTX FORCE are derived from the World Rally Championship (WRC), one of the world’s most demanding rallies – thus, providing another example of Michelin’s “from track to road” philosophy. At the same time, on-road technologies make the tire brake better on wet roads and last longer. According to tests conducted by third parties, the MICHELIN LTX FORCE brakes up to 2 meters shorter and delivers 35% more mileage when compared to its competitors in the dual-purpose tire category,” added Nunag.

With the MICHELIN LTX FORCE, customers can be ensured of safety and versatility with excellent on-road grip and great off-road traction, as well as of longevity and durability with better mileage and a tougher design.

The new MICHELIN LTX FORCE will be available from Michelin Authorized Dealers Nationwide.

Covering a wide range of fitments, the MICHELIN LTX FORCE will be available in

Rim	Description
15	205/70 R15 96T
	215/75-15
	225/70 R15 100T
	LT225/75 R 15 108/104S
	P235/70 R15 102S
	235/75 R15 105T
	255/70 R15 112T EXTRA LOAD
	265/70 R15 112T
16	215/65 R16 98T
	LT225/75 R 16 115/112S
	235/70 R16 106T
	245/70 R16 111T
	265/70 R16 112T
	LT265/75 R 16 123/120S
	275/70 R16 114T
17	225/65 R17 102H
	235/65 R17 104T
	245/65 R17 111T
	265/65 R17 112T
	275/65 R17 115T
	285/65 R17 116T
18	265/60 R18 110T
	285/60 R18

All sizes will be available within the year at Michelin tire dealers. To check the dealers near you, you may visit our website, www.michelin.com.ph.

About Michelin

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve the mobility industry. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 111,700 employees and operates 68 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced 184 million tires in 2015. (www.michelin.com)

*This is Press Release

A flying start to the 2017 FIA WEC for MICHELIN’s endurance racing tires at Silverstone

MICHELIN’s new range of endurance racing tires took today’s changeable weather in stride to secure a positive start to the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Silverstone, Great Britain.

Michelin Chief Representative in the Philippines, Michael Nunag, said the performance and consistency of the tires was a particular source of satisfaction, as was their ability to climb swiftly to their working temperature – an especially appreciable feature on the British venue’s cold asphalt.

Interesting battles in both the LM P1 and LM GTE Pro classes provided the big turnout of spectators who braved the wind and rain to witness the excitement at the 2017 FIA WEC’s opening clash.

In the blue ribband prototype class, Toyota Gazoo Racing dominated both the qualifying and early stages of the race, chased by two Porsche LMP Team cars which gradually eased back into contention. After the second round of refuelling stops at around the 90-minute mark, the two German machines succeeded in moving up to second and third places after successively passing the N°7 Toyota TS050 – Hybrid (Conway, Kobayashi, Lopez) which was in the hands of Kamui Kobayashi at the time.

The Porsches continued to close the gap to the front-running N°8 Toyota (Buemi, Davidson, Nakajima) as dark clouds gathered over the circuit, and rain finally started to fall in the last 30 minutes before the halfway mark as the N°1 Porsche 919 Hybrid n°1 (Jani, Lotterer, Tandy) took command in the slippery conditions.

The change in weather forced the teams to reconsider their initial strategies and the two Porsches pitted to switch to MICHELIN’s Hybrid ‘intermediate’, on which they were several seconds a lap faster than the Toyotas, which were still on slicks. The storm soon blew over, however, and Porsche failed to reap any real benefit from its tactic.

With the track now dry once more, the two Porsches stopped again to take fuel and revert to slicks as Antony Davidson, who had stayed out in the N°8 Toyota, recovered top spot in the course of his long stint. The N°7 Toyota was still fourth at this point.

This was the order midway into the six-hour race when another storm broke out. Argentine FIA WEC rookie José-Maria Lopez was caught out in the slippery conditions in the N°7 TS050 – Hybrid. He crashed heavily but managed to nurse his badly-damaged car back to the pits in a bid to make repairs.

While his car was being extracted from the gravel trap, Race Control deployed Full Course Yellows and ultimately the safety car to permit the marshals to clean up the debris.

The interruption lasted almost an hour, which meant there were only two hours remaining before action resumed. 

Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima gradually extended the N°8 Toyota’s lead until its final pit stop with half-an-hour remaining. 

After taking on fuel and fitting fresh rubber, Sébastien Buemi took over for the race’s final phase as Nick Tandy also pitted for the N°1 Porsche 919 Hybrid’s last stop. Meanwhile, Brendon Hartley (N°2 Porsche) did not change tires during his last stop and re-emerged in front, forcing Buemi to pull out all the stops in his attempt to catch and pass the New Zealander despite the traffic and more heavy rain. The Swiss driver’s efforts were rewarded when he swept past in a spectacular late move before powering to a well-earned victory.

Toyota’s winning trio was joined on the podium by the crews of the N°2 and N°1 Porsche 919 Hybrids.

LM GTE Pro honors for Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK

The LM GTE Pro battle saw Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK take the spoils with the class’s pole-winning Ford GT of Priaulx, Tincknell, Derani. The N°67 car got away well and was soon joined by the N°66 sister car of Mücke, Pla, Johnson. During the opening hour, however, the two American cars found themselves under pressure from Frédéric Makowiecki’s N°91 Porsche 911 RSR which performed a thrilling fightback from the penultimate spot on the class’s grid. The Frenchman’s hopes of victory ended by a lengthy pit stop, however.

The ensuing scrap for the podium between the Porsche 911 RSRs and the N°71 (Rigon, Bird) and N°51 (Calado, Pier Guidi) Ferrari 488 GTEs kept the crowd entertained all the way to the chequered flag which James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi passed in second placed, chased by Porsche’s Lietz, Makowiecki.

Jérôme Mondain (manager of Michelin’s endurance racing programme): “We were very pleased with the way our tires performed in today’s cold, unsettled weather. They succeeded in reaching their working temperature particularly quickly and their consistency exceeded our expectations. We will have a debrief with pour partners in the next few days but everyone reported how happy they were with our solutions. Our focus is now on preparing for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in less than two weeks’ time.”

Sébastien Buemi (winner, with Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima): “We couldn’t have wished for a better start to the season. It was a fully deserved win for us and Toyota, and payback for a strong performance, our perseverance, and the reliability of our car and its Michelin tires. Michelin’s new range unsurprisingly lived up every bit to its promise!”

The tires used during the 2017 6 Hours of Silverstone

Michelin’s LM P1 partners opted for MICHELIN’s MEDIUM slick, while the majority of the LM GTE Pro runners fitted the MEDIUM tire, occasionally combining it with the HARD alternative.