In 1889 two brothers, Andre and Edouard Michelin, embarked on a great human and industrial odyssey: that of developing modern transport solutions -- the key to freedom and economic development -- through ceaseless innovation.

1891 - A cyclist comes to the plant to buy the materials to repair the Dunlop tires on his bicycle. It takes three hours of labour and overnight drying to repair the tire and glue it to the rim. Edouard Michelin dreams about a tire for the future...a tire that is easy to repair. Michelin files its first patents for detachable tires that can be repaired in a quarter of an hour.

1895 - The Eclair, built and driven by the Michelin brothers in the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race, is the first automobile to be fitted with pneumatic tires. For the very first time, an automobile runs on air.

1898 - At the Universal and Colonial Exhibition in Lyon in 1894, the entrance to the Michelin stand is decorated with two columns of tires piled high, prompting Edouard Michelin to remark: "Give it some arms and legs and it would look like a man!". Soon afterwards, Andre Michelin conceives a character based on a scetch by illustrator O'Galop. His motto is "Nunc est bibendum!"a latin verse from the poet Horace which means "It's time to drink!". A clever association between this cartoon character and the piles of tires leads to the creation of the Michelin Man. The translation of the slogan becomes "Michelin tires drink obstacles!".

1899 - The 100 Km/h barrier is broken by an electrically powered car fitted with Michelin tires.

1906 - The Michelin Tyre Co. Ltd. is founded in London, England. Michelin builds its firs plant outside of France in Turin, Italy.

1907 - Michelin crosses the Atlantic to build a plant in the United Stated in Milltown, New Jersey.

1908 - With its "Twin Tire" invention, Michelin plays a role in the develpment of the first trucks. Andre Michelin opens the Travel Information Bureau on Boulevard Pereire in Paris to help tavelers plan their itineraries.

1910 - The first Michelin road map is published at 1/200,000 scale.

1913 - Michelin invents the detachable steel wheel, prefiguring the spare wheel.

1919 - The Michelin's travel department, "Bureau d'Itineraires", provides free information on the best roads to take, distances and service stations in all countries. The Estaing factory is equipped with "back and forth" tracks to test tire endurance.

1923 - The first low-pressure tire (36psi), the "Comfort", can cover 15,000km.

1925 - Michelin purchases 22,230 acres in Dautieng, and another 13,600 acres in Thuan Loi, Indochina, to open its own rubber plantations. The Comfort tire for trucks is launched

1926 - Michelin publishes its first regional tourist guide and creates the provincial restaurant star rating system.

1929 - Michelin invents the "Micheline" (railcar) and the train tire.

1930 - Michelin files a patent for a tire with a built-in tube, ancestor to the tubeless tire.

1932 - The "Super-Comfort", a new very low pressure tire, has a life span of 30,000km.

1934 - The "Stop" tire introduces anti-skid strips to reduce the risk of skidding on wet roads.

1937 - The first wide touring tire, the "Pilot", considerably improves roadholding at high speed. The "Metallic" is the first truck tire with a steel casing for greater resistance to overheating and heavy loads.

1946 - Michelin files the patent for the radial tire on June 4th.

1949 - The radial tire is marketed under the name Michelin X.

1952 - Michelin adapts radial technology to the truck tire

1959 - Michelin lanches the first radial tire for earthmover equipment.

1965 - First asymmetric tire, the Michelin XAS is designed for fast cars.

1967 - The Michelin ZX replaces the X tire for enhanced comfort and driving pleasure.

1968 - The first Green Guide for a North American location, New York City, is pubilished.

1975 - The TRX and XZX, which replaces the ZX, are launched.

1979 - Michelin radials help Ferrari win the World Championship in Formula One Racing.

1981 - The Michelin Air X is the first radial tire for aircraft.

1984 - Michelin develops the first radial tire for motorcycles.

1990 - Michelin acquires the 'Uniroyal-Goodrich Tire Company'.

1993 - Michelin invents a new tire manufacturing process called C3M.

1994 - The Michelin Energy tire promoted better fuel economy.

1995 - The space shuttle lands on Michelin tires.

1996 - Michelin develops a revolutionary concept designated as the PAX System in 1998: the vertically anchored tire, unseatable, which permits to run flat after loss of pressure. While imrproving the overall performance of the tire, it increases safety and extends mobility. Michelin commercializes the firat colour tire for cars.

1998 - Bibendum celebrates its 100th birthday.

1999 - Michelin develops the Delta Radial construction for high performance motorcycle tires. These tires rival racing tires in performance.

2000 - Michelin announces that it will enter F1 racing and wins four races the following year.

2001 - Michelin develops a new technology for aircraft enabling Concorde to return to the skies: NZG radial technology.