Michelin claims new tire comfortable, sporting, economical
Michelin says there are two touring-tire-buying camps. One drives BMWs and Audis and goes shopping for performance touring tires. The other group drives Camrys and Accords and is somewhat surprised to learn they'll be shopping for more expensive performance tires. The tire company hopes to capture a big slice of the second group with its new Primacy MXV4Michelin says this new tire not only provides the performance enthusiasts demand, but also gives casual drivers the comfort they want along with a 60,000 mile warranty.
To show off the MXV4, Michelin invited Autoblog to Barber Motorsports in Birmingham, Ala. to see for ourselves how it performed.
Continued after the jump.
Also, check out the gallery of photos from the event.
Gallery: Michelin Primacy MXV4
From 55 miles an hour, the Michelins allowed a 12-foot shorter stopping distance on wet pavement than an identical Toyota Camry wearing Bridgestones Turanzas with Serenity Technology. Several of the journalists in attendance also talked about the Bridgestone car getting squirrelly toward the end of the braking maneuver, something we felt as well. It was by no means a scientific test, but it was easy to tell the Bridgestones just weren't gripping as well.
On a wet autocross course, the Bridgestone Camry understeered much worse than the Michelin car. On the Primacies, we were all making faster, more controlled runs.
Michelin says the Primacy can best the Bridgestone due to several reasons. "Active sipes" open up during normal driving, but interlock when cornering to provide more grip. Alternating tread patterns reduce road noise, and a more square contact patch allows even tread wear and increases tire life.
Michelin spoke of the two aforementioned touring-tire-buying camps. The tire company hopes to capture a big slice of the "Camry and Accord" gang with the MXV4's 60,000 mile warranty for both V and H rated tires. The Primacy MXV4 went on sale June 1, and is available in 32 sizes.
After comparing this one tire to one competitor in only one driving condition, it's impossible to make a judgement about the Michelin. But it at least should be an option on your tire-shopping list.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
emdee 1:25PM (6/03/2007)
What size tires did your test cars have? I'm going to get new tires and wheels and am trying to come up with the best wheel size/comfort ratio.
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Barney 1:28PM (6/03/2007)
The warranty is appealing but depends on how it is calculated. Michelins are an expensive tire and there are many that are less costly. It all depends on how you drive, that justifies the expense. I have never found "stock" tires on new cars much good but there is a limit on how much better tire, I would buy.
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$0.02 1:50PM (6/03/2007)
Anything is better than the Goodyear Integrity's Honda put on my Pilot. These have to be the worst tires every made! 26,000 miles on them, with regular rotations, and they are already needing to be replaced. Sad.
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Eliot 1:49PM (6/03/2007)
Am I the only one who noticed the two elephants in the background?
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Jaymez 5:36PM (6/03/2007)
There's something you don't see at your average test track.
Barney 11:39PM (6/04/2007)
I think they are statues. The garden centre in the nearby town has a life-size brass horse. The brass is discoloured and the horse looks very life-like
ruggels 1:58PM (6/03/2007)
I'm with you eliot, wtf? :).
Thanks for this review, it's nice to hear about driving tests pertaining to tires, even if they are set up by one manufacturer. I doubt many of us have the fortune of actually testing out various tires prior to deciding on one, thus stories like this help!
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Bruno 2:18PM (6/03/2007)
Left out an important aspect. Price?
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Trenton Lipscomb 3:42PM (6/03/2007)
Tire Rack has them for $120 for Camry-ish and Accord-ish sizes.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Michelin&model=Primacy+MXV4
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MikeW 4:36PM (6/03/2007)
4 groove[michelin] vs. 3 groove[bridgestone]
pretty easy for standing water performance
215/60 16 should be the camry size, but does bridgestone have a turanza serenity in that size?
So was it a apple to apple comparison?
and it is pretty easy to finagle tire pressure.
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Bret 6:00PM (6/03/2007)
If the elephants are freakin' you out, you prolly don't want to know about the giant spiders and ants!!
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Bryan 9:37PM (6/03/2007)
I have found Michelin tires to be the best. I am so glad Ford dumped Firestone. Those were the worst tires on my 99 cougar and my grandmothers 00 Taurus. My 04 F150 came with Michelins, although they were part of a bad batch, however, the replacements were put on at 10-15k miles and have been doing great with plenty of tread, I now have 70k miles on the truck. My aunts 01 F150 (this was last year) had the original Michelins @131k miles. I have not seen her in a while but im sure they have been replaced by now. Amazing brand!
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Peter 5:25AM (6/04/2007)
And I was just about to ask who on earth would need a 60000 mile warranty for tyres... 6 figure mileages on a single set? The mid boggles. Must be hard as hell...
G-man 1:57AM (6/04/2007)
dude those tires are not "economical" My old ls400 takes 225/60/16. @ tire rack each tire is 139! i bout some bf goodrich tourings for 70 from sam's club. maybe not as precise but definitely not twice as good as my tire.
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Amit 5:07AM (6/04/2007)
Costco has a sale on tires that starts today (Monday, June 4th) where you can save $60 on a set of 4. I went to Costco today to replace my tire and the guy said we could come back tomorrow to get a better deal. Costco in Sacramento did have the new Michelin MXV4 Primacy. The ones that I was looking at were for $107 each ($92 each after the discount).
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Big Mike Wood 8:49AM (6/04/2007)
Does someone who drives an Accord or Camry even know the difference between a Michelin and a Futura? Outside of marketing I doubt they would tell the difference except in their pocketbook.
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Justin 2:27PM (6/04/2007)
uh...yes Big Mike Wood (compensating much?), we do. Moron. Intelligent buy cars for more than just performance, some of us lead realistic lives where more than just HP matters.
Though I have to admit i was surprised when i found out my 99 Accord was the lone one that required a larger size at a V-speed rating...apparently the EX V6 combo ups things a bit....tacked on some more funds but the Michelins were well worth it.
Nellydesign 8:56AM (6/04/2007)
Haha! That park is awesome! I actually drove all over it at the Porsche Driving Experience last month. Even the wet skidpad course, which was lots of fun:)
It has an awesome Motorsports Museum as well, which I think has every motorcycle ever created.
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Jellodyne 11:18AM (6/04/2007)
I swear by the BF Goodrich Traction T/A -- which Discount Tire sells for about $80 in my size. They don't last 60k, but they do grip and roll nice. I second the Goodyear comment -- my old Eagle GTs were the worst tire ever.
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Chris Tutor 12:33AM (6/05/2007)
They are indeed elephants, possibly there as a tribute to The University of Alabama. Which would be ironic, since I think Mr. Barber is a graduate of UA's rival, Auburn University.
http://www.rolltide.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8000&ATCLID=239531
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