Vans Is Using Sneakers to Make Driving Safer

How to win the Michelin x Vans Old Skool and Sk8-Hi sneakers in the Street Tread Contest.

Michelin x Vans Sk8 Hi
Vans

Image via Vans

Michelin x Vans Sk8 Hi

Just when it seems like there isn't much unchartered territory left for Vans' far-reaching collaborations, the skate brand delivers an unexpected—yet perfectly fitting—project to promote teen driver safety.

In partnership with Michelin, Vans created limited-edition Sk8-Hi and Old Skool sneakers that will be given away through the tire brand's Street Tread contest. Each style features a blue and white checkerboard upper emblazoned with the face of the Michelin man and yellow accents. 

The idea behind the sneakers is to bring awareness to oft-overlooked safety issues such as unsafe tread and over- or under-inflated tires. According to data provided in by Michelin, four in 10 teen drivers are operating vehicles with tires that could be deemed unsafe. Furthermore, 300,000 of the U.S.' 2.2 million yearly accidents involve teens driving with problematic tires.

"On the surface, it might seem like teens care very little about tread depth or air pressure, but when you dig a little deeper, you discover that they're very aware of the importance and the impact of these indicators—but only as it relates to their sneakers," Scott Clark, chairman and president of Michelin North America, said in a press release.  "When we recognized this, we turned to one of the most popular and iconic sneaker manufacturers in the United States—Vans—and invited them to partner with us to help save teen lives."

Only 100 pairs of the Michelin x Vans sneakers will be made available through the contest. To enter, post a picture to social media that demonstrates proper tire maintenance using the hashtag #StreetTreadContest or by entering here.

Michelin x Vans Old Skool