BAND HAS A HIT WITH MICHELIN TYRES
Stoke-on-Trent – March 20, 2012
Members of a 1920s musical comedy act have recorded a hit with a set of Michelin Agilis van tyres which still have more than 3mm tread depth remaining after driving 125,000 miles across the UK and Europe.
The Casablanca Steps, a four-piece ensemble from Stockport, bought a new Citroën Relay Van in 2004 which came fitted with 205/70 R15 Michelin Agilis 81 tyres.
Eight years and more than 125,000 miles later, the group says the tyres are still ‘like new’.
Band leader Peter Ackerley, said: “We constantly tour the country in the van loaded with musical equipment and I am absolutely amazed the tyres have lasted this long.
“It takes us all over the UK and right across Europe as well. We’ve been to Germany many times, France, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland in all weathers including snow and ice, and the tyres have been incredible.
“We got to 80,000 miles and thought it was good that it kept getting through its MOT but we thought a tyre change was imminent. But it got to 100,000 miles and the tyres were still the same. We’ve been up and down the motorway that many times and it’s like we have only just put them on the van. I started to wonder if someone had changed the tyres without me knowing. They still look new.”
As well as their latest hit with the tyres, The Casablanca Steps’ other claims to fame include playing for the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace; playing the British Days Festival in Frankfurt and Hamburg; and performing a live television broadcast from the middle of an ice rink in Belgium. They have appeared on more than 30 television shows.
Peter said: “Our mechanic has said he has never known anything like it and our friends are astounded. We all are. The van we had previously was fitted with standard tyres which we were constantly changing.
“I’m just amazed. I tell everybody about it, and now we all have Michelins on our own cars. Why would we buy another tyre?”
Steve Dolby, Michelin Product Marketing Manager, Car, Van and 4x4, said: “We have long been proud of the longevity of our tyres so The Casablanca Steps’ story is music to our ears!
“The band’s story is proof our tyres really do go further, and we will be interested to see how far they can get – and if anyone else has recorded a similar hit.”
ends
MICHF/025/12
Michelin (www.michelin.co.uk)
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tyres for every type of vehicle, including aircraft, bicycles, cars, earthmoving machines, farm equipment, trucks and motorcycles. Michelin employs 115,000 people, has sales organisations in more than 170 countries and operates 69 production sites in 18 countries throughout five continents. The Company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases and offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com. Research and development is undertaken in technology centres in Asia, Europe and North America.
For further press information please contact:
Paul Cordle, Michelin Press Office
Tel: 44 (0) 1782 402341 Email: paul-m.cordle@uk.michelin.com
Lucy Harveyor James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR, Inver House, 37-39 Pound Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3PG
Tel: 44 (0)20 8647 4467 Fax: 44 (0)20 8544 4711 E-mail: lucy.harvey@garnettkeeler.com
PHOTO CAPTION: The Casablanca Steps, with their Citroën Relay van. Pictured L-R: Tony Mclaughlin (Clark Deville); Peter Ackerley (Wootten Boetard); Jake Newman (Pico Boon III); and Elliot Davis (Archibald Singen Singen Smythe).
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