The Michelin man: PH Meets
Secrets of steering feel and more from Michelin's 'subjective tyre tester' Baptiste Grison
Steering feel? Baptiste is your man
Sports car makers must value handling above all else, right? Not always. "During these last few years comfort and noise is starting to be a bigger matter for the sports car manufacturers," he told us. Part of the problem is that sports cars have become too good elsewhere, or at least too refined. "Because the car are becoming a lot more isolated, you're not hearing so much the engine, so all the noise comes from the tyres."
But because every action has a reaction when it comes to tyres, that noise reduction impacts elsewhere, mainly on wet handling if you change the tread pattern, he tells us. If the client (the maker) isn't happy about sacrificing that, maybe the compound can be changed, which might sacrifice a bit of rolling resistance or durability instead.
Baptiste's place of work - potential for fun aplenty
The car he names as being the memorable he's driven in recent months is the Alfa Romeo 4C. "I really enjoyed that. It's like old school - no power steering assistance, so you really feel the car," he said. "Every movement you make in the car the car has a reaction on the road. This is the kind of car I like."
This is obvious from his car collection. He has a Caterham Roadsport that's he racing in a French series, a 2008 Subaru WRX (his wife's) and, our favourite, a first generation Peugeot 106 Rallye from 1993 with the 1.3-litre engine.
Feedback from 4C gets his seal of approval
We ask him about replacement tyres. How do you know which tyres will suit your car best? If they're still being made, then the tyres that were developed for it, he tells us predictability. Markings, such as Porsche's N1,N2 etc, let you know. And if the tyres aren't being made any more? Sadly there's no special intel here other than recommendations from owners via word of mouth or on forums like this. Although he does say that someone slating a tyre for one car doesn't mean the same exact tyre won't perform brilliantly for another model.
Fascinating stuff and proof, yet again, that the rubber bits connecting your car to the road are much overlooked when it comes to dictating how it behaves.
That's reasonable advice, however manufacturer's chose a tyre based on overall cost and whatever marketing deal they've struck.
Trying new tyres is so exciting and interesting, I'm always surprised when people who claim to be into driving, just bolt on whatever they've already got on, or whatever the garage have on offer.
I know from one of the tyre testers (who was a Brit) from one of the big four this was fact, even if he leant towards a European brand.
I also did the tyre testing for the Pirelli wets back in the day, and it was done on Wednesday afternoon at the very Glamorous Mallory Park, and it never failed to rain!
I agree that electric power steering can be good and I think part of the problem is that some electric power steering types are worse than others. Seems like the worst is the column mounted type and the best is mounted directly in the rack. It's only in theory though and I know the calibration plays a big part in how steering feels.
It seems like electro-hydraulic steering is the best of both worlds in terms of feel and economy. I guess it isn't used because it costs more and is less reliable than electric power steering.
When electric power steering is good it's like an average hydraulic or electro hydraulic system. When it's bad though it makes driving feel less enjoyable and less safe. The Peugeot 208 is the worst car I've ever driven for steering feel. It's also the worst car I've ever driven for many, many other reasons I'll resist ranting about now.
I test tyres, and trust me, when you're doing comparison tests on identical vehicles the difference is incredible.
I test tyres, and trust me, when you're doing comparison tests on identical vehicles the difference is incredible.
In a previous role it was heavily based on subjective testing for an OEM, I'd agree that tyres can transform the ability and character of a car.
That's reasonable advice, however manufacturer's chose a tyre based on overall cost and whatever marketing deal they've struck.
Odd thing and what speaks for the guy is that the 4C he says to like (he must not have known that this is politically incorrect for UK readers) is on made to measure Pirelli's. We live in an age where company employees are less biased than journo's.
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