GREENVILLE, S.C., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Imagine the exhilaration of driving the best performing street tire in the world. Now, imagine that performance fitted on your vehicle. Today, Michelin brings that performance to the marketplace with the launch of the highly anticipated MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport ultra-high performance tire, delivering up to 12 percent better handling and lasting up to two times longer than leading competitors.

Designed for sports cars and performance sedans, the new Michelin tire uses a full range of expertise from the leading international endurance races, in particular the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and marries this with a 30,000 mile warranty.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport is designed to accomplish one goal: to deliver the ultimate driving experience while enhancing safety, even in the most extreme conditions.  This combination of driving enjoyment and safety performance proved decisive in the product-development phase conducted with Porsche, BMW M Series and Ferrari.

“We believe we have created a tire that will win over the most demanding performance enthusiasts,” said Kip Newton, technical category manager for ultra-high performance products, Michelin North America. “The ability to couple safety in extreme conditions with driving pleasure and excellent mileage is the result of a research and development commitment unrivaled in the tire industry.  Sales of ultra high-performance vehicles are on the rise and are expected to increase more than 25 percent worldwide over the next five years. Michelin has made a commitment to continue to lead the industry, exceeding the needs of the ultra-high-performance consumer.”

Michelin engineers focused on improving performance in several different areas, including endurance, safety and handling. To ensure that its latest-generation tire met the highest standards of safety, Michelin applied the same safety margins as those used in the civil-aviation industry.  During testing, MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport tires covered more than 30,000 miles in low-grip conditions.  Altogether, the tires were evaluated on more than 62,000 miles of some of the world’s most demanding tracks.  In joint development with automobile manufacturers, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport was tested for a total of 1,000 hours at over 186 mph, proving its superior level of high-speed endurance.

The tire sets a new pace with the professionals. “I was able to preview the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport in Dubai, and from the moment I stepped on the brakes, I got it: This is the ultimate tire for any high-performance vehicle.  With dry braking, the braking is instantly better, you turn the steering wheel and there is more response and better grip,” says champion racecar driverGunnar Jeannette. “With wet handling, there is a huge night-and-day difference between MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport and its competitors, in both grip and feel.”

Michelin has uniquely combined three technologies, including two developed for tires at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: the Ceinture Twaron® fiber belt, as well as the Bi-Compound Tread and the Variable Contact Patch 2.0, both of which were derived from innovations proven in endurance racing.

Ceinture Twaron

• A high-density fiber used in cutting-edge equipment for sports such as tennis, sailing and mountain biking – as well as aeronautics, protective military gear and motorsports – Twaron provides the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport with superior high-speed stability.
• Due to its variable tension, the belt tightens the tread more than the shoulders, more effectively overcoming centrifugal force and distributing pressure evenly.

Bi-Compound Tread

• Originally developed for racing tires, this technological innovation uses different rubber compounds on the left and right sides of the tread.
• On the outside, a unique, carbon black-reinforced elastomer (developed specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans) ensures exceptional endurance when corners are tight.
• On the inside, a latest-generation, high-grip elastomer enables the tire to break through a wet surface and adhere to even the slightest irregularity in the road.

Variable Contact Patch 2.0

• Due to the latest digital-simulation software used in the aeronautics and automobile industries, pressure and, consequently, temperatures are spread evenly across the tire’s contact patch.
• Although the patch’s shape changes when cornering, the amount of rubber in contact with the road remains the same.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport outperformed its five leading competitors in handling, longevity, and dry braking in a test conducted in 2010 by TUV SUD, an independent testing organization.  Continuing to improve on the benchmark-setting MICHELIN Pilot Sport PS2, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport also outperforms its predecessor in six key categories:

• Grip on dry surfaces: Tests showed a 1.6-second gain on a 1.7 mile closed-circuit track.
• Braking on dry surfaces: When decelerating from over 60 mph to a full stop, braking distance was shortened by 5 feet.
• Grip on wet surfaces: Time was reduced by 2.5 seconds on a 2.5 mile closed-circuit track.
• Braking on wet roads: When decelerating from 50 to 6 mph, braking distance was shortened by ten feet.
• Total mileage on the track: 50 percent more laps.
• Total mileage on the road: 10 percent greater distance.

In 2010, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport received the Ferrari Technology Award.  The tires have already been approved by Ferrari for the 458 Italia and 599 GTO and by Alpina for the B5.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, 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, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered inGreenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 21,400 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

SOURCE Michelin

RELATED LINKS

http://www.michelinman.com

Free Flat-Tire Assistance, 30-Day Guarantee and Additional Mileage Warranties

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Call it the real wheel deal. Starting today, consumers who purchase a set of MICHELIN® tires will automatically receive the new Michelin Promise Plan™, the first of its kind in the tire industry.

The Michelin Promise Plan delivers more than just safe, fuel-efficient and long-lasting tires. The program, rolling into tire retailers today, is a robust guarantee and warranty plan that’s sure to gain traction with consumers. The Plan offers a free 30-day satisfaction guarantee, three-year flat tire changing assistance and additional mileage warranties on passenger and light-truck replacement tires*.

“This is an entirely new way of thinking about tire service,” said Scott Clark, COO of Michelin North America’s passenger and light truck tire division. “While other companies offer piecemeal warranty packages, we are the first to provide a comprehensive package, reminding consumers that with Michelin, you get more. Consumers can drive with ultimate peace of mind knowing that Michelin has their back – with the highest quality product and the highest quality warranty in the industry.”

The Michelin Promise Plan includes:

• 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee: You don’t like the tires, we’ll take them back!
• If customers are not 100 percent satisfied with their purchase, they can bring their MICHELIN replacement tires back to the point of purchase within 30 days for a no-cost exchange, including all mounting and balancing charges, no questions asked.

Flat-Tire Changing Assistance: You get a flat, we’ll change it, or tow you for free!

• Consumers call a toll-free number for a qualified service professional to replace a flat tire with their inflated spare, or request a tow to the nearest Michelin-approved tire dealer of their choice (up to 150 miles away) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no cost.

Treadwear Mileage Warranty: Michelin tires last, we’ll prove it.

• Beginning March 1, all standard MICHELIN® passenger and light truck tires (replacement and original equipment) will be covered by a limited warranty for treadwear. All details, including applicable conditions and limitations, can be found at www.michelinman.com/promise.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, 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, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 21,400 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: *Replacement tires purchased before March 1, 2011 are not eligible for the Michelin Promise Plan. The 30-day satisfaction guarantee and three-year flat tire changing assistance benefits are not available on MICHELIN® tires that come as original equipment, as most vehicle manufacturers provide some level of these benefits. MICHELIN tires that come as original equipment on model year 2011 and later vehicles will be covered by a limited warranty for treadwear. This is the first mileage warranty for Michelin original equipment tires. Roadside assistance is provided by Auto Road Services, Inc., a company with more than 20 years of experience.

SOURCE Michelin North America
Back to top
RELATED LINKS
http://www.michelinman.com

Galeana and McDonald Continue to Serve Detroit-Area Communities

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC has announced the opening of two new franchises with a pair of veteran Detroit-area auto dealers. The Galeana Auto Group location in Warren, Mich., and the Century Sales location in Taylor, Mich., are the latest additions to the growing Sears Auto Center franchise family. The program was created by Sears Automotive in October 2009 to give dealers a chance to transform their dealerships into automotive service businesses and continue serving their communities. All Sears Auto Centers franchises are backed by the buying power, distribution network and corporate support of one of America’s most iconic brands.

“Carl Galeana and Colleen McDonald exemplify the character and business structure we search for in potential franchisees,” said Joe Finney, president of Sears Automotive. “These auto industry veterans have turned negative situations into opportunities for their businesses, former employees and communities. As Sears Auto Center owners, they will continue to deliver quality products and services to customers that trust them and know them by name.”

Colleen McDonald, president of Century Sales, opened the doors to her new Sears Auto Center franchise last week at 13500 Telegraph Road in Taylor. The same space was home to McDonald’s Century Dodge dealership for 30 years. McDonald has earned several posts and honors including being named the first female president of the Detroit Chevrolet Dealers Association and winning a Crain’s “40 under 40″ award.

At 7830 Convention Boulevard in Warren, Carl Galeana, president of Galeana Auto Group, hosted grand opening festivities on Feb. 10, just months after he was forced to shut down his Saturn dealership in the same location. Galeana has more than four decades of experience in the auto business and owns additional dealerships in Michigan, Florida and South Carolina. He is the former president of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and was recently appointed as one of the few Fiat dealers in the United States.

The new Sears Auto Center franchise locations will provide the same products and services for automobiles, light trucks and motorcycles that are currently available at the nearly 850 company-owned Sears Auto Centers. Those products and services include:

• An extensive tire selection, including brands such as Michelin®, Goodyear®, BF Goodrich®, Bridgestone® and more
• Batteries from DieHard®, America’s most preferred automotive battery
• Maintenance and repair services for consumer and commercial fleets, including oil changes, alignments, shocks, brakes, coolant/antifreeze, air conditioning, transmissions, fuel system cleaning and more
• Custom wheels, car care products, truck boxes, fluids, floor mats, DieHard battery chargers, DieHard portable power, XCargo® carriers and more

In addition to traditional products and services, Sears announced a new program last week at the 2011 NADA Convention & Expo that provides even more support for dealer franchisees. Sears has partnered with CNA National to equip Sears Auto Center franchisees with premier automotive warranty options for their pre-owned vehicle customers. The new program includes two options: Sears Automotive Limited Warranties sold with every certified vehicle and Sears Automotive Protection Plans for extended mechanical breakdown coverage.

About Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC
Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC offers automobile dealers the opportunity to operate licensed Sears Auto Centers, bringing the Sears brand, buying power, distribution network, systems and corporate support to automotive aftermarket businesses. Sears Auto Center franchise locations provide the same products and services for automobiles, light trucks and motorcycles that are currently available at the nearly 850 company-owned Sears Auto Centers. Sears Authorized Independent Auto Centers LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation and an affiliate of Sears, Roebuck and Co., has its principal offices at 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179. For more information, visit www.searsautofranchise.com.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 929 full-line and approximately 1,200 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore®, Craftsman®, DieHard and Lands’ End® — among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. The company is the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.