Are Michelins Really All That?

Are Michelins Really All That?

Author
Discussion

Benbay001

5,802 posts

158 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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R300will said:
Dad's RS5 has dunlop sport or something on them (it came with them) and he doesn't rate them much. Had Pirelli P-Zero Rosso's on his old RS4 and swears by them.
Isnt the RS5 known for poor steering feel, where as the RS4 is known to be the second best handling Audi that they have made (inc steering feel)? Maybe this is why your dad blames the tyres.

Patrick Bateman

12,217 posts

175 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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Are people talking about pushing the tyres down to the 1.6mm mark or the more recommended 3mm mark?

I've yet to own a car long enough to require changing the tyres from my own use.

Thundersports

659 posts

146 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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Thumbs up for them too; longevity and grip etc they really are the best normal tyre and worth paying a little more for.

simoid

19,772 posts

159 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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The Hitman said:
Yep, that is pretty good. I have a Clio 182, had Toyo T1-R's fitted and they where very good, but they just seemed to just dissapear, so I have heard that Michelin Pilot 3's were good but just wanted to check before "commiting"
I replaced my Kumhos on the front of my 182 after about 10k (still legal but was feeling vague in the wet) and I've went for Pilot Sport 3s. £240 for the pair at my local place and the chap reckons I'll get "a fair few more miles than the Kumhos".

Possibly quieter and smoother than the Kumhos, but I'm not sure if that's just cos of the tyres getting balanced or what.

I prefer to look at my tyres and see "Michelin" too smile

mat777

10,416 posts

161 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I have michelin tyres as they are renowned for toughness. my XZL's will keep going on stuff that would shred Goodrich and General Tire tyres.

Oh, and yes they are also a hell of a lot grippier on a wet road than my previous boots, which is a bonus on a non-abs car!

Patrick Bateman

12,217 posts

175 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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There's so many different tyres from the top manufactures that it's hard to really label one brand as the absolute best as well.

That and I doubt many people have actually tried and tested competitor's top tyres of the same generation.

Glosphil

4,387 posts

235 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I have 4 x Michelin Primacy HP on my 2-litre 160hp FWD Civic. I swap the back and front tyres when front are 2/3 worn. The last set lasted for just under 28K miles. Noise level, dry/wet grip and braking seem fine to me.

bonesX

902 posts

181 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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The PS2 has a totally different and bespoke carcass to 'normal' road tyres. Looking inside the tyre it is completely smooth, rather than the crosshatching seen on most other tyres, sort of like a motorsport looking tyre

One thing about them is the wall - it's soft, so you do get initial vagueness on turn-in

Grip levels are very good dry & wet, as is progression - lots of feedback to what they're going to do

And yes, they do last longer smile

Sad the PS2's are no longer made, here's a pic of the inside


Andyjc86

1,149 posts

150 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I find that Michelins are the worst for perishing. Don't know why but we seem to replace more Michelins because the rubber is perished then any other brand.

That said I have no idea how long the customer has had the tyre on, or the mileage they have done.

s m

23,306 posts

204 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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Patrick Bateman said:
There's so many different tyres from the top manufactures that it's hard to really label one brand as the absolute best as well.

That and I doubt many people have actually tried and tested competitor's top tyres of the same generation.
^

This.

People generally can't afford to do what EVO/Autocar/Autoexpress do and test a complete set of the equivalent tyres from 10 different manufacturers on the same car in much the same conditions on the same test track/test route with measuring equipment/test facilities in a comparative tyre test. Even the big mags can't get hold of one of the particular brands/tyres they wanted for a test half the time.
What people generally do is compare some worn out 3 year old compound on the whole car with a brand new tyre from a different manufacturer ( which they've put on just one axle ) and give the impression 1000 miles into that 'comparison'

Charlie Michael

2,750 posts

185 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I've put PS3's on my Focus and the difference is incredible from the original P7's. Turn in, grip and traction out of the corner is noticibly better. They're also quieter on motorway jaunts. 205/55/R16's. thumbup

egomeister

6,717 posts

264 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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Interesting topic...

I've had Michelins on my 182 from new (first PE2, then later PS3's) and have seen no reason to change them. I get about 12k out of the fronts over a mixture of motorway cruising and twisties which I think is pretty good given how its driven.

I have been tempted to look for a cheaper option a couple of time, but they have such a good balance of grip, feel and endurance I end up sticking with them - seems I'm not alone in thinking this way!

JulianHJ

8,754 posts

263 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I got 22.5k miles out of Primacy HPs on the front of my Focus, and they were only down to 3.5mm.

They perform really well - I'd definitely recommend them.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

247 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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Michelin - you get what you pay for.

The Wookie

13,984 posts

229 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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I like Michelins for their performance, but I'd be surprised if they outlasted any other tyre by 3 or 4 times if only because a set of ditchfinders are usually indestructible. Mainly because they're made out of melted down action men.

jamei303

3,016 posts

157 months

Monday 30th April 2012
quotequote all
s m said:
Patrick Bateman said:
There's so many different tyres from the top manufactures that it's hard to really label one brand as the absolute best as well.

That and I doubt many people have actually tried and tested competitor's top tyres of the same generation.
^

This.

People generally can't afford to do what EVO/Autocar/Autoexpress do and test a complete set of the equivalent tyres from 10 different manufacturers on the same car in much the same conditions on the same test track/test route with measuring equipment/test facilities in a comparative tyre test. Even the big mags can't get hold of one of the particular brands/tyres they wanted for a test half the time.
What people generally do is compare some worn out 3 year old compound on the whole car with a brand new tyre from a different manufacturer ( which they've put on just one axle ) and give the impression 1000 miles into that 'comparison'
Agree. I never bother with people's tyre reviews: "I got Michelins on my Yaris and they're fine, but I borrowed my mate's Evo which has Conti's on and ended up in a ditch!!!!11"

Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

223 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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PS3's on my MX5 and they are a revelation... predicatable and high levels of grip. The thing that most impressed me though was wet weather driving. Night and day from the T1R's I had before.

Can't talk about how long they'll last because they've only been on 3 months but if the rep is anything to go off then I'm a convert.

aberdeeneuan

1,346 posts

179 months

Monday 30th April 2012
quotequote all
Benbay001 said:
R300will said:
Dad's RS5 has dunlop sport or something on them (it came with them) and he doesn't rate them much. Had Pirelli P-Zero Rosso's on his old RS4 and swears by them.
Isnt the RS5 known for poor steering feel, where as the RS4 is known to be the second best handling Audi that they have made (inc steering feel)? Maybe this is why your dad blames the tyres.
My Audi came with Dunlops as well - took them off for Conti sports within 1000 miles. Awful tyres. No grip in wet weather and they are much louder over pretty much any surface. Took them off after scaring myself in the rain on the motorway, no way for a quattro to behave. Contis transformed the car into something befitting of a quattro badge and I'll never buy Dunlop again.

Car before (BMW coupe) had Michelin, and they were great tyres as well. 18-23K out of a set, car behaved impeccably on them.

David87

6,674 posts

213 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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S1_RS said:
I'm having a full set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports 235/35 19 fitted to the Focus on tuesday having been recommended them via various forums. The Contis they're replacing have a habit of splitting sidewalls.
Indeed, these are what my Focus will be getting once the current tyres get shredded.

GregE240

10,857 posts

268 months

Monday 30th April 2012
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In my experience, I would say yes. That said, our 330D has nearly gone through a set of rears on about 20K, so it must be my missus' driving, but don't tell het I said that.