Michelin

Michelin is the world's second largest tyre manufacturer, with arguably the world's most recognisable corporate logo, 'Bibendum the Michelin Man'. It is also renowned for its travel guides and Michelin Stars, the preeminent critical awards for restaurants based on fine food.

Michelin is everything tyres and TyreLAND promotes Michelin tyres for cars, utes and SUVs, including the Energy MXV8 car tyre for its benchmark
'Green X' technology.

Background

Although its roots trace back to manufacturing children's rubber balls and industrial gaskets, valves and tubing, it wasn't until 1891 that the Michelin brothers' dreams took off after an overnight repair of a bicycle tyre. After searching for a quicker, better way to repair the tyre, the brothers found it, and Michelin filed for its first patents for detachable tires.

Other Michelin firsts include:

• Fitting the first automobile with pneumatic (or air-filled) tyres
• The first detachable steel wheel, a precursor to the spare tyre
• The first low-pressure passenger tyre that can travel 15,000 kilometers
• The first radial tyre
• The first asymmetric tyre for fast cars
• The first radial tyre for aircraft and motorcycles.

In 1988 Michelin purchased BF Goodrich Company.

For more information, visit www.michelin.co.nz.