Michelin Wins First OE Corvette Fitment
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GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 20 - Corvette owners and die-hard enthusiasts will have the opportunity to feel the power and precision of a legendary racecar equipped with Michelin tires as Michelin prepares to grip the pavement with its first-ever Corvette original equipment fitment for the 2009 Corvette ZR1.
As General Motors unveils the highest-performing production supercar in the company's history, Michelin will debut the Michelin® Pilot® Sport PS2(TM) ZP (zero-pressure) tires, designed and engineered specifically for the ZR1. The tires incorporate the latest Michelin run-flat technology and provide superior levels of cornering grip, straight-line traction, ride, comfort, noise reduction and extended tread life for confident everyday driving.
The Michelin-Corvette relationship has proven to be a winning combination since 2004 through a highly-interactive partner-team relationship in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With an overall series record of 35 victories out of 41 races in the GT1 series, Michelin has helped Corvette Racing team and drivers Oliver Beretta, Oliver Gavin, Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen dominate on the track by developing and delivering performance-proven products for the most successful Corvette race cars in the team's history.
Applying this same interactive principle to the ZR1 project, Michelin drew on its storied history of racing dominance and worked side-by-side with GM's Corvette ZR1 engineers to ensure equally optimized performance for street, highway and track. Profound levels of handling and grip developed for the world's most demanding race tracks are incorporated into the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tire and combined with a supreme level of safety engineered into the ZP tires to ensure optimal performance in both wet and dry conditions.
Michelin's newest generation of run-flat technology includes two heavy- duty rayon carcasses to reinforce the ultra high-performance, zero-pressure sidewall inserts. The advanced tread rubber compound -- street-legal, but track credible -- features highly bridged tread blocks to provide a solid connection to the ground for maximum control during cornering, braking and acceleration anywhere from a freeway's on-ramp to the tightest corner on any race track.
"The Corvette ZR1 is a historical breakthrough OE fitment for Michelin," said Tom Chubb, vice-president, Marketing for Michelin Automotive Industry Division. "When given the opportunity from GM, we knew we had to bring our best technology to the table and set a benchmark in the industry for performance. I am happy to say we achieved that goal by delivering the highest level of combined technologies and safety elements -- without compromising road manners or performance."
The distinctive sidewall styling of the new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tire gracefully accompanies the ZR1's sleek shape and distinguishable Corvette lines, making it an awesome sight to see-and-be-seen in. The ZR1 will ride on P285/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires in the front and P335/25R20 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires in the rear, all of which will be manufactured near Michelin's North American headquarters in Greenville, S.C.
In addition to the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires developed for the 2009 Corvette ZR1, Michelin also announced, at the 2007 SEMA show, plans for expansion of new ZP run-flat replacement tire sizes for the C5, C6 and C6 Z06 models available in 2008.
Replacement tire sizes for the C5 include:
245/45ZR17 95Y Pilot Sport PS2 ZP
275/40ZR18 99Y Pilot Sport PS2 ZP
Replacement tire sizes for the C6 include:
245/40ZR18 93Y Pilot Sport P2 ZP
285/35ZR19 99Y Pilot Sport P2 ZP
Replacement tire sizes for the C6 Z06 include:
275/35ZR18 95Y Pilot Sport P2 ZP
325/30ZR19 101Y Pilot Sport P2 ZP
Now, with the addition of the new run-flat replacement tire sizes for the C5, C6 and C6 Z06 models, combined with the all-new original equipment fitment on the ZR1, Corvette owners and enthusiasts will have an entire portfolio of Michelin performance options to outfit one of the greatest American flagships, without compromise.
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 (www.michelin-us.com) employs more than 22,500 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.
For more information, visit http://www.michelinmedia.com/
Source: Michelin
CONTACT: Lynne M. Slovick of Michelin, Office +1-864-458-6365, Cell
+1-864-561-9914, lynne.slovick@us.michelin.com
Web site: http://www.michelinmedia.com/
