Michelin Sweeps J.D. Power and Associates Original Equipment Awards Again

GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 12 -- Another Michelin sweep as the tire maker is ranked highest in customer satisfaction in every segment of the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study. "Receiving awards is never boring and we never rest on our laurels," said Tom Chubb, vice president of marketing for Michelin Automotive Industry Division. "We strive every single day to earn this endorsement from drivers and achieving our 10th sweep is extremely gratifying."

Michelin topped the rankings in the Luxury/Sport, Pick-up/Full-size Van, Mass Market/Non- Luxury and SUV vehicle based tire segments in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

This latest study brings Michelin's total to an impressive 52 awards in the United States, more than four times the number of all other tire makers combined. Beyond just dominating U.S. awards, Michelin holds a total of 79 J.D. Power and Associates Awards worldwide.

Michelin has dominated the J.D. Power and Associates Awards for Customer Satisfaction for tires since their inception in 1989 and received every eligible award for the tire study 10 times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2007). Michelin has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for unmatched customer satisfaction every year since the tire awards began.

"We are delighted that drivers continue to voice their appreciation and support for the technology, quality, performance and value of our Michelin product lines," said Chubb. "Our record in consumer satisfaction studies validates our commitment to innovation and our position as the technology partner of choice for many of the world's premier vehicle manufacturers."

J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting and customer satisfaction. They are headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif. Awards are not given in every country each year. The awards schedule is determined by J.D. Power and Associates.

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, visit http://www.michelinmedia.com/

                   MICHELIN'S J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES
                              AWARD HISTORY

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- United States:
  -- 1989 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire (first year awards are given)
  -- 1990 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 1991 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 1992 Best Overall Replacement Tire
  -- 1993 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire (after 1993, this category
     was split)
  -- 1993 Best Overall Replacement Tire
  -- 1994 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1994 Best Overall Replacement Tire (after 1994, this category was
     split)
  -- 1995 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1995 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1996 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles (tie)
  -- 1996 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1996 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1997 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1997 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1997 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1998 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1998 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1998 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 1999 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1999 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles -
     BFGoodrich(R) tires brand
  -- 1999 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 1999 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2000 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2000 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2000 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2000 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2001 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2001 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2001 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2001 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2002 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles (category was
     later split)
  -- 2002 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2002 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2002 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles (tie)
  -- 2003 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2003 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2003 Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles
  -- 2004 Best Original Equipment Luxury/Sport Tire
  -- 2004 Best Original Equipment Sport Utility Tire
  -- 2004 Best Original Equipment Mass Market/Non-Luxury Tire
  -- 2005 Best Original Equipment Luxury/Sport Tire
  -- 2005 Best Original Equipment Sport Utility Tire
  -- 2005 Best Original Equipment Pick-up/Full-size Van Tire
  -- 2005 Best Original Equipment Mass Market/Non-Luxury Tire
  -- 2006 Best Original Equipment Luxury/Sport Tire
  -- 2006 Best Original Equipment Pick-up/Full-size Van Tire
  -- 2006 Best Original Equipment Sport Utility Tire
  -- 2007 Best Original Equipment Luxury/Sport Tire
  -- 2007 Best Original Equipment Sport Utility Tire
  -- 2007 Best Original Equipment Pick-up/Full-size Van Tire
  -- 2007 Best Original Equipment Mass Market/Non-Luxury Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- Canada:
  -- 2001 Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles (tie)
  -- 2001 Best Replacement Tire for Light Truck Vehicles

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- United Kingdom:
  -- 1998 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire (first year the award was
     given in the UK)
  -- 1998 Best Overall Replacement Tire
  -- 1999 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2000 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2001 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2002 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2003 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- Germany:
  -- 2001 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2002 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2003 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- Japan:
  -- 2002 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire (first year the award was
     given in Japan)
  -- 2003 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2004 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire (after 2004, category was
     split)
  -- 2004 Best Winter Tire
  -- 2005 Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles
  -- 2005 Best Winter Tire
  -- 2006 Best Winter Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- China:
  -- 2001 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2002 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards -- Taiwan:
  -- 2003 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2004 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire

  Michelin's J.D. Power and Associates Awards - Thailand:
  -- 2001 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire
  -- 2002 Best Overall Original Equipment Tire