New Line of Men's Casual Footwear Inspired by New Michelin Primacy MXV4 Tire

New Line of Men's Casual Footwear Inspired by New Michelin(R) Primacy(TM) MXV4(R) Tire

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 4 -- On the heels of successful North American launches of its line of industrial work boots, Babolat pro tennis shoes with Michelin technology and frameless all-weather wiper blades, Michelin announced today the introductions of an all-new casual footwear line and the introduction of the new Michelin(R) Primacy(TM) MXV4(R) touring tire that inspired it at Alabama's premier racing facility, Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040818/MICHELIN )

In extending its brand beyond tires, Michelin aims to bring the quality, performance and innovation synonymous with its tires to a diverse range of lifestyle products, including lines of industrial, casual and performance footwear.

Like all Michelin footwear, the MXV4(R) line is designed 'from the inside out' with rigorous testing to provide uncompromising comfort and performance in terms of grip and durability. The MXV4 footwear line features two outsoles, inspired by the tire tread sculpture of the same name, and full- grain premium leather uppers in variety of different styles with colors to suit the most fashion-forward lifestyles.

"The Michelin name stands for innovation, performance and mobility worldwide," said Tom Costin, president and CEO of Michelin Footwear. "Footwear industry insiders and consumers will continue to see many of Michelin's popular tire-tread sculptures creatively captured in footwear outsoles," added Costin. "When wearing them, it's easy to recognize the benefits of each sculpture's design are directly in line with the type of footwear and its performance needs."

  Additional features of the MXV4 footwear include:

  -- Patented Advanced Rear Suspension cushioning system for a comfortable
     heel strike.  The multi-chambered, shock-absorbing heel pad is
     positioned between the insole and midsole.

  -- Traditional hand-sewn components to retain the shape and integrity over
     the life of the shoe.

  -- Agion(TM) antimicrobial forefoot liner to provide effective odor
     control and resistance to fungal-related foot disorders over the life
     of the shoe.

The new MXV4 footwear line will carry a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (M.S.R.P.) range of $79-$120 (U.S.) and be available in specialty retail stores and upscale department stores throughout the United States and Canada beginning in the fall.

Developed by Michelin Footwear, a division of Gear Six Technologies LLC, Michelin's official worldwide licensee for footwear, the MXV4(R) line is being distributed by IGE 3 Corporation, a division of Geoffrey Allen Corporation located in Secaucus, N.J.

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 (http://www.michelin-us.com/) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

For more information about Michelin Lifestyle Limited and high-res photography of the Michelin Primacy MXV4 footwear, visit http://www.michelinmedia.com/ or contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040818/MICHELIN
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com