Feb. 19, 2008 - Michelin is investing $6.8 million in a research and development project focused on boosting vehicle fuel economy by reducing tire rolling resistance. The funds will support the company's own research efforts as well as a $1.9 million research contract with the International Center for Automotive Research at Clemson University.

Tire rolling resistance is the force that must be overcome to move the tires on a vehicle forward. Michelin's research project aims to develop new tire manufacturing materials and processes that reduce tire rolling resistance by half.

Michelin, which allocates nearly 4% of its annual net sales worldwide to research and development, has made the design of energy-saving tires a key component of its innovation strategy. "We believe that the future - not only of the automotive industry but also of transportation and mobility - lies in the imaginations and hands of researchers searching for ways to improve fuel economy and overall mobility," says Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America.