Usually a tire spot involves tightly focused shots, but in the recent campaign for Michelin directed by Tim Damon (for agency SapientNitro), a story unfolds solely for the senses.
In a spot titled “Tunnel”, the ability to stir the senses begins with Michelin. Viewers are purposely propelled down a curvy mountain road before everything decelerates into a dreamy, surreal tunnel. Sound design filled with low bass notes, car engine exhaust and heartbeats build with the ride. The pace returns to real time with just glimpses and outlines of a car once again hitting daylight. “Only you know where this leads,” the voiceover says, “but we both know where it started.” The Michelin Pilot Series of tires are lastly revealed.