Michelin Announces eTire(TM) System, Commercial Truck Tire Monitoring Program; Integrated System Provides Tire Pressure and Asset Tracking for Fleet Managers

      ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 10 -- The latest industry innovation was
unveiled today as Michelin Americas Truck Tires introduced its eTire(TM)
System in Orlando, Florida.  The eTire System provides fleet managers the
real-time information they need to maintain peak efficiency and minimize
costs.  It is the first and only system of its type available for commercial
trucking fleets.
    "The Michelin eTire System is an integrated system that puts technology to
work," said Randy Clark, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Truck
Tires.  "Michelin is the only company to provide the technology and the
integrated system necessary to make commercial truck sensors viable and
beneficial for fleets.  eTire has more than two years of road testing, proving
its durability and functionality for fleets across North America."
    The eTire System by Michelin incorporates an InTire Sensor(TM), sidewall-
mounted SensorDock(TM), Hand-Held or Drive-By Reader and BIB TRACK(TM)
software to accurately capture and instantly report tire pressure, wheel
position and maintenance information.  The InTire Sensor can be attached to
any brand of truck tire, allowing a fleet to monitor and track all of their
tires.
    The information gathered is then reported in a fleet specific manner via
an Internet server to enable maintenance managers to track tire costs
accurately and to monitor inventories as well.  The BIB TRACK software can
even account for retread costs by exchanging information with BIB TREAD(TM),
Michelin's retread management software.
    The Drive-By Readers in the eTire System can immediately differentiate
between inner and outer dual tires, relaying accurate information in real time
to the fleet manager.  Hand-Held Readers can easily read both inner and outer
duals, as well.
    eTire can read the operating temperature inside a tire and correct the
pressure reading for "cold equivalent pressure" instead of the expanded
pressure occurring after a tire has traveled for a distance and heated up.
This allows precise readings and accurate pressure adjustments, as if the tire
were cold.
    All data is in a secure server in the BIB TRACK software, not in the
InTire Sensor itself.  This assures that if a tire is lost, stolen or somehow
damaged, the information on the tire up to that point is maintained in the
database.  The system also allows immediate access and tracking of the
information via the Internet, with instant updates as the sensor in each tire
is read.
    "Although the technology is impressive, the most important aspect of the
Michelin eTire System is the benefit it delivers to the fleet," said Clark.
"Crucial information, with real-time updates, allows fleet managers to spot
problems early, reducing downtime and minimizing costs."

    Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including
airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty
trucks 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 (http://www.michelintruck.com) employs
25,900 and operates 23 facilities in 19 locations.


    BIB TRACK(TM) software manages a fleet-wide database of information
including mileage, tire condition and maintenance records for every tire.  At
the end of each tire's original tread life, BIB TRACK automatically
forwards tire information to the BIB TREAD retread plant management system so
that repair and re-treading activities can be scheduled.

    BIB TREAD(TM) software provides complete management of every step of the
re-treading and repair process, tracking each tire through its receiving,
inspection repair and final invoicing.  Detailed fleet specifications for
allowable age, number of retreads, number of repairs and tread type are
maintained for each tire.  Thanks to the unique internal integration of BIB
TREAD and BIB TRACK, fleet tires are traced through repeated repairs and re-
treading cycles.