Michelin provides tires, know-how to help Canadians have a safe winter driving season

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Michelin Canada

Nov 21, 2012, 06:30 ET

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Michelin Canada wants to help Canadians make winter driving as safe as possible this season with its new MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3™ winter tire, which stops up to 10 per cent shorter on ice and lasts up to two times longer than leading competitors*.

"Safety is our guiding principle at Michelin. We want to champion safety among Canadian drivers," says Adam Murphy, marketing director for Michelin Canada. "It starts with offering the best winter tire out there -- the X-Ice Xi3 -- but we want to do even more to help Canadians master winter driving skills. Our Michelin Winter Driving Academy website will boost their confidence and offer peace of mind about safety on winter roads, be it while driving their loved ones to school or work, or en route to a fun-filled holiday gathering with family and friends."

The Michelin Winter Driving Academy is an interactive online resource with a wealth of information to help Canadians handle winter driving with confidence. It offers pointers on how to get vehicles winter ready and important tips to enhance winter driving skills to help drivers feel safe every time they get behind the wheel.

"Drivers need to acquire and hone specific skills when the mercury starts dropping and roads become wet, snowy, icy or slushy," says Richard Spénard, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer and driving instructor with the Michelin Driving Academy. "And even if the roads are dry, winter tires are a must for safety in temperatures below seven Celsius because at that point the rubber compound in all-season or summer tires starts losing flexibility, reducing traction."

Here are a few examples of tips for drivers that can be found at the Michelin Winter Driving Academy website, www.michelinwintercenter.com

  • Stopping distance, handling and performance are all improved when you are driving on four winter tires;
  • If your car is not equipped with ABS and  the wheels lock and the car slides, release the brake pedal to recover traction, then carefully brake again;
  • Should you lose control of your vehicle, brake until the car comes to a complete stop. Remain calm and manoeuvre out of the way to avoid being hit by others vehicles;
  • Make sure you always have at least half a tank of gas to avoid a frozen gas line;
  • Tires lose pressure as the temperature drops, so it is important to check the pressure at least once a month.

The MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3™ tire combines four key features for enhanced protection even in some of the harshest winter conditions.

  • Tridimensional Cross Z sipesTM improve rigidity and enable stable handling;
  • Increased number of tread blocks provides 15 percent more biting edge with a new Block Edge shape providing more grip on snow and ice;
  • Micro-Pumps absorb water from the surface and evacuate it by centrifugal force for improved tread contact with the road surface;
  • FleX-Ice™compound, a rubber silica-based compound, maintains flexibility at lower temperatures improving performance on ice and in snow, while keeping firmness at moderate temperatures improving wear and grip.

In addition, the Michelin® MaxTouch Construction™ features a unique contact-patch shape that evenly distributes the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering and maximizes wear life. Michelin's perennial performance ensures the Michelin® X-Ice® Xi3™ tire will maintain quality performance and appearance through the life of the tire. The tire comes with a 60,000 kilometer limited tread wear warranty. With its Green X® marking, the Michelin® X-Ice® Xi3™ tire guarantees a level of energy efficiency among the highest in the market. It helps reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining all the advantages of long wear, safety and performance.

"When you buy the Michelin X-Ice Xi3, you get a tire designed with your safety in mind," said Murphy. "Your safety and that of your family is why we created the Michelin Driving Academy. We encourage you to visit the website and update your winter driving skills. It's always good to have that peace of mind. Let us have a safe winter driving season."

Michelin® Promise Plan™
North American consumers who purchase a set of four MICHELIN® tires will automatically receive the Michelin Promise Plan™, the first offer of its kind in the tire industry. The Michelin Promise Plan offers a free 30-day satisfaction guarantee and three-year, flat-tire changing assistance. In addition, all standard Michelin passenger and light-truck tires (replacement and original equipment) are covered by a limited warranty for treadwear.

About Michelin
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 and motorcycles. 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 22,200 people and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

*Braking claim based on commissioned third-party ice braking test results versus Toyo® Observe GSI-5, Goodyear® Ultra Grip® Ice WRT, Bridgestone® Blizzak™ WS 70, Nokian® Hakkapeliita R, tire size 205/55R16.  Longevity claim based on commissioned third-party treadwear test results versus Bridgestone® Blizzak™ WS70™ and Nokian® Hakkapeliita R, tire size 205/55R16.

SOURCE: Michelin Canada

Media Contact: 
Sachin Deshpandé 
Michelin Canada 
416-576-0226
[email protected]

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Michelin Canada