My Press Trip to Monaco and Cannes!
Two weeks ago, I was just settling down with my blogging bestie, Aby from You Baby Me Mummy, and new pal, Sally from Raring to Go, to 3 day VIP star treatment extravaganza, which started in Monaco. Hundreds of bloggers and journalists from across Europe had been invited by Bridgestone Tyres because they were so excited by their latest unveiling and I have to say it didn’t disappoint (not least because I won!).
Tyres and Car Safety
I want to express my surprise at my ignorance when it comes to car safety.
Before this trip I had no idea where my spare tyre was, if I even have one, nor how to change it should I get a puncture.
It hadn’t even crossed my mind how distressing it would be if I got a flat with Reuben in the car.
There is literally never a good time to get a puncture, but the odds are I’d be on a motorway with Reuben in the car since that’s where I do a lot of driving. And now I know how to change a tyre…I never want to have to put it into practice!
So, while I know that tyres and car safety is really not that sexy (although Bridgestone did a pretty good job of making it so with the help of handsome drivers and dancing girls!), I want to convey the message that it really is important to have a bit of knowledge about your car!
Anyway, on to the grand unveiling of Bridgestone’s latest product which will be going on the market in April 2016.
Bridgestone DriveGuard
After an amazing evening in Monaco, the next morning we arrived at a Chateau in the Mountains of Nice.
After some refreshments we were ushered into a tunnel. Or the Tunnel of Terror as I soon renamed it!
As we entered it got colder and darker, there were alarming signs and distressing text messages. And worst of all? There was the sound of a child crying. That set my nerves a-jangling!
They proved their point there and then – getting a puncture is both distressing (and add to that a dead phone or no reception) and time consuming. The average driver loses 3 hours to a flatty. I don’t even want to begin imagining that with a child onboard.
I’m not sure anyone else was especially bothered (one person even told me they hadn’t noticed the crying child!!) but I was feeling pretty traumatised by the time I reached the end.
We were greeted with a huge screen simulating a gorgeous drive in the sunny mountains, with all your favourite driving music playing. Much more relaxing!
Bridgestone gave their presentation during which they unveiled their game-changing technology, DriveGuard.
It’s a touring tyre designed to be fitted into all passenger cars equipped with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System!
The tyre can perform even when damaged, aka punctured, (including in the tyre’s tread and side wall areas) and delivers the highest standards of safety, wet performance, comfort and fuel efficiency. Basically, if you get a puncture in one of these babies, you will get a warning light but you can continue driving for up to 50 miles at up to 50 miles an hour!
Test driving Bridgestone’s DriveGuard
Obviously we had to put it to the test.
…and some crazy person gave Aby and myself keys to a real car, with a punctured tyre and then allowed us to drive around windy, mountainous, public French roads for half an hour! I only hit one sign.
Check out Aby’s video (you can see us doing the test drive at about 7 mins in – I do a Jeremy Clarkson style piece to camera!)
Aside from a slight noise from the tyre, which is intentional so you know there’s a puncture, the drive was completely normal. Really smooth.
In fact one of the British parties managed to puncture the other front tyre and still they were in complete control!
Changing a Tyre
If I hadn’t been convinced of needing these tyres after the Tunnel of Terror and the test drive, I was after the ‘changing a wheel’ exercise! As I said previously, I know how to do it now but I never want to have to put it into practise!
In fact, I was in the middle of a Facebook update saying how much I wanted to win the competition (a set of tyres, of course!) as my name was being called out… I won the tyres!!
Looking cool as ever!
Bring on April, I say.
Do you know where your spare tyre is or how to change it?
You’re better than I was, if you do!
Bridgestone will be launching the DriveGuard tyres across Europe in April. Visit Bridgestone DriveGuard for more information.
Disclaimer: I was invited to France as Bridgestone’s guest. I have not been asked to write this post and all words are my own!
These tyres look absolutely amazing! Completely game changing. I want some!! x
I can’t wait to get mine Donna!! xx
Fantastic summary of our trip, Hannah! You’re right – that tunnel really hit home how horrible a puncture would be (especially with children in tow). I came out in the sweats! Thank the Lord – and Bridgestone for DriveGuard tyres! And thank you for not mentioning my ‘wing mirror’ accident. *Blush*
I have had a tire burst before – driving down into a country valley with no signal AND my then two year-old god son in the car. It’s a small miracle we didn’t spin off the road but thankfully I managed to pull into a driveway to a farm – but obviously wasn’t about to change a tire and trust Simon not to run out into the road!
I picked Simon up and trekked up to the farm house to be greeted by a bunch of very sympathetic and lovely builders insistent that I didn’t need to call my Dad – and they would help me.
They obviously thought I was a teen Mum (I was 18) as they asked Simon if Mummy’s car was broken. I tried to explain but Simon just nodded and said bang!
Never want to be in that boat again!