Michelin Sweeps J.D. Power and Associates Replacement Tire Awards - Again

Business Wire, August 7, 2001

Business Editors/Automotive Writers

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2001

Tiremaker continues unprecedented dominance of coveted

Customer Satisfaction Awards

It was deja vu all over again as Michelin swept the J.D. Power and Associates replacement tire category for the fourth time, picking up the brand's 27th and 28th awards for Customer Satisfaction.

J.D. Power and Associates announced today that Michelin had received both the Passenger Vehicle Replacement Tire and Light Truck Tire honors for Highest Customer Satisfaction among buyers in the U.S. Michelin holds more of the prestigious awards than all other tire manufacturers combined - an astounding 78 percent of all of the 36 awards received in the tire category. Michelin is the only tire brand to receive a J.D. Power and Associates Award every year since the overall tire studies began in 1989.

"Every award is a thrill for us," said Michelin Brand Manager David Jones. "Our focus has always been on serving our consumers and Michelin's continued dominance of prestigious awards such as ones from J.D. Power and Associates are an excellent by-product of our commitment to building the best tires in the world."

Michelin brand's J.D. Power and Associates award history:

-- Best Replacement Tire for Passenger Vehicles in Customer Satisfaction 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001

-- Best Replacement Tire for Light Trucks in Customer Satisfaction 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001

-- Best Original Equipment Tire for Passenger Vehicles in Customer Satisfaction 1994, 1995, 1996 (tie), 1998, 1999 and 2000

-- Best Original Equipment Tire for Light Truck Vehicles in Customer Satisfaction 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000

-- Best Overall Original Equipment Tire in Customer Satisfaction 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993/a

(/a: After 1993, this category was split into Best OE Tire for Passenger Vehicle/Light Truck Satisfaction.)

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 Agoura Hills, Calif. The independently funded J.D. Power and Associates 2001 Replacement Tire Customer Satisfaction Study is based upon the responses of more than 9,500 vehicle owners and lessees. In the tire category, the studies provide specific feedback on tire quality, wearability and handling.

Michelin 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, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America, Inc. (www.michelin.com) employs 26,500 and operates 23 plants in 19 locations.