Dean Weeks

All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, according to Dean Weeks, the technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low-rolling resistance tires for 15 years.

All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, according to Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low rolling-resistance tires for 15 years.

All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, according to Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low-rolling resistance tires for 15 years.
...
All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, according to Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low-rolling resistance tires for 15 years.

All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, according to Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low-rolling resistance tires for 15 years.

All told, about 20 percent of fuel is used to overcome this rolling resistance, said Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager at Michelin, which has marketed low-rolling resistance tires for 15 years.

European drivers still insist on tires for summer and tires for winter, said Dean Weeks, technical marketing manager for Michelin North America.

"We import some tires from Europe that are summer or winter, but we don't export many all-season tires," he said.

One big factor: European roads are generally better maintained than those spanning the United States, Weeks said.

"There are more potholes here than there are in Europe," he said.

Still, Europe is a big region with a wide variety of climates, which means different tires are needed in a cold, mountainous country such as Norway, for example, than in sunny southern Italy.Winter tires are especially popular in northern Europe, Weeks said.

European tires also emphasize performance in wet environments, since it's generally wetter there than in America, he said.

Another big difference: America's love for the SUV.The number of light trucks and SUVs on U.S. highways recently surpassed the number of passenger cars, Weeks said.

That means more big tires - which has meant a challenge for Michelin to upgrade its facilities to keep pace in producing the larger size tires.

Although Europe operates on the metric system, tire sizes are becoming more standardized between the continents, Weeks said.

"Where the real skill comes up in any tire manufacture is the blending of all of the other variety of ingredients when coupled with the natural rubber that yields the desired recipe," said Dean Weekes, technical marketing manager for Michelin North America.