Hey Luke: comparing two Michelins... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

suginami · #1 01-16-2005, 01:18 AM

I'm looking at two Michelin tires, and I want to compare them side-by-side, but your website won't allow it because they are in different performance categories.

I have been happy with my Michelin MXV4 Plus tires. They are quiet and offer good ride comfort, which are my primary objectives. Their only downside is that they barely last 30,000 miles on my car. They are also spendy.

I was looking at the Michelin Pilot XGT H4, and want to compare them to the MXV4 Plus.

Michelin's website gives them the same treadlife rating (400), the same wet traction score (7 out of 7), the same rating for quiet ride (10 out of 10), the same rating for handling (7 out of 7).

Their only difference is their winter traction score. The MXV4 Plus gets an 8 out of 10, while the XGT H4 gets 7 out of 10. Big deal. A one point difference. Winter traction doesn't matter to me as I live in So. Cal.

Do you think the Pilot XGT H4's will really have the same quiet ride and ride comfort as the MXV4 Plus?

I'm thinking of going with the Pilot's as they are about $20 cheaper....

jcyuhn · #2 01-17-2005, 11:42 AM

Paul -

My spouse's 1993 300E is currently shod with XGT H4s and I really don't much care for them. It's not that they are bad tires, but they don't seem to fit the character and suspension tuning of the car.

The XGTs have a very firm sidewall. They send quite a lot of impact harshness into the car when encountering a pothole or pavement seam. Since the suspension and shock tuning on this car is a bit on the soft side, it doesn't deal with these impacts all that well. A bit of harshness and noise makes it into the cabin. Mostly it just feels as if the tires are tuned for one type of driving and the suspension another. They talk different languages

I don't know whether the suspension tuning on my 2.8 liter car is any different than your 3.2 liter variant?

No real problems with the XGTs. They are typical Michelins - smooth, even treadwear, etc. Right now we're down to the last mm of treadwear with perhaps 35K miles on that set of tires.

Unless you're an aggressive driver I think something like the Michelin Symmetry or Hydroedge is a better choice for this car. I had Michelin "Agility Touring" on my 124 wagon - I think that's an NTB private label for the old Michelin X-1. Compared to all the previous H-rated quasi-performance tires, it was like having a new car. They were so smooth and so quiet it completed changed the character of the car.

I didn't drive that car very aggressively - it's a diesel wagon afterall - but had no complaints with the cornering grip, braking, or steering feel of the more pedestrian tires. You do give up the "AA" traction-temperature rating - it's "AB" instead - and the H speed rating for an S or T rating. The treadwear rating is some absurd number - 700+. I put 15K miles on the new Michelins before selling that wagon, and you couldn't even tell they had any wear.

When my wife's car needs tires - which is about next week - I'm going to do the same thing.

My $.02,

- JimY

suginami · #3 01-17-2005, 02:55 PM

I really do appreciate your comments, Jim, and agree.

I don't think the XGT's are appropriate for the car.

I think I'll stick with the MXV4 Plus'.

The drawbacks of the MXV4's are that they are very expensive and don't last that long. Heck, they only have lasted abut 30,000 miles on my car, and I'm just about up to the wear bars.

However, contrary to others on this forum, I have been supremely happy with them otherwise. They are very quiet, give excellent ride comfort, track as straight as an arrow, and perform very well in the rain.

I guess it's a trade off and it is worth it to me: a high price and poor longevity for excellent ride and handling characteristics.

jcyuhn · #4 01-17-2005, 03:30 PM

You're welcome Paul.

I agree with you on the MXV4 series tires. I've had them on several vehicles. They are expensive on a per-mile basis, but do everything I need quite well. I've heard they are really bad in snow & ice, but for those of us residing in the sunny south, who cares?

I may put Kuhmos on the wifes car. There have been several favorable reviews here, and the survey results at tirerack are very strong. At about 40 bucks each they are so cheap I could justify replacing them in a year if they don't work out.

As an aside, my new-used 210 wagon is shod with Continental CH95s. Even in a 225/55/16 size with an "H" speed rating they are impressively smooth and quiet - I am pleasantly surprized.

- JimY

suginami · #5 01-17-2005, 05:50 PM

Yeah, I read the reviews on The Tire Rack's website, and there are a lot of negative comments on the MXV4's poor traction in snow. But it doesn't snow out here in So. Cal, does it?

I looked at the Continental's, too. They are only $59, as well. However, there seem to be an awfully lot of negative comments about them, as well as talk of a class action lawsuit regarding a poor balance problem.

oldsouth · #6 01-17-2005, 11:52 PM

During the life of my '95 S350, I have ran nothing but Michelins and have been through several different tires; MXV4, MXV4 Plus, Pilot XGT, X-One, and Hydroedge. The Pilots will give a slightly firmer ride and handle noticably better. They do not last any longer than the MXV4's. The MXV4 Plus runs a little longer than the regular MXV4's and I could not tell any difference in ride or handling. The X-One and the Hydroedge ride just as good as the MXV4's and last MUCH longer. Only thing is the speed rating is 118 mph. Since my diesel only goes about 118, I am comfortable with that. I currently have the Hydroedge and like them better than any tire I have ever put on the car. If you do not do sustained driving at over 118 mph, I would recommend them. On any tire, the speed rating is for sustained speed. A quick blast 10-15 mph over will not disinegrate the tire. I wouldn't run up to 150 mph with them though.

Luke@tirerack · #7 01-18-2005, 09:02 AM

the Pilot XGT H4 is harsh feeling and quite noisy

suginami · #8 01-18-2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsouth

During the life of my '95 S350, I have ran nothing but Michelins and have been through several different tires; MXV4, MXV4 Plus, Pilot XGT, X-One, and Hydroedge. The Pilots will give a slightly firmer ride and handle noticably better. They do not last any longer than the MXV4's. The MXV4 Plus runs a little longer than the regular MXV4's and I could not tell any difference in ride or handling. The X-One and the Hydroedge ride just as good as the MXV4's and last MUCH longer. Only thing is the speed rating is 118 mph. Since my diesel only goes about 118, I am comfortable with that. I currently have the Hydroedge and like them better than any tire I have ever put on the car. If you do not do sustained driving at over 118 mph, I would recommend them. On any tire, the speed rating is for sustained speed. A quick blast 10-15 mph over will not disinegrate the tire. I wouldn't run up to 150 mph with them though.

Thanks for your input.

I'm not a fan of the Michelin X-One. I put this tire on my old Nissan Quest minivan, and I felt they were the hardest riding tire I have ever owned. They came with a ridiculously high warranty, something like 60,000 or 80,000 miles. My take on these tires is that the high treadwear guarantee is a result of a harder rubber compound, and sacrifices ride comfort.

BENZ-LGB · #9 01-21-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

I'm looking at two Michelin tires, and I want to compare them side-by-side, but your website won't allow it because they are in different performance categories.

I have been happy with my Michelin MXV4 Plus tires. They are quiet and offer good ride comfort, which are my primary objectives. Their only downside is that they barely last 30,000 miles on my car. They are also spendy.

I was looking at the Michelin Pilot XGT H4, and want to compare them to the MXV4 Plus.

Michelin's website gives them the same treadlife rating (400), the same wet traction score (7 out of 7), the same rating for quiet ride (10 out of 10), the same rating for handling (7 out of 7).

Their only difference is their winter traction score. The MXV4 Plus gets an 8 out of 10, while the XGT H4 gets 7 out of 10. Big deal. A one point difference. Winter traction doesn't matter to me as I live in So. Cal.

Do you think the Pilot XGT H4's will really have the same quiet ride and ride comfort as the MXV4 Plus?

I'm thinking of going with the Pilot's as they are about $20 cheaper....

I bought Michelin HydroEdge tires for my 1999 Seville. The car only had 25k original miles when I replaced the original GY tires.

What a difference the HydroEdge make. Handling, especially in the recent monsoons (Ventura County DID get a lot of rain) has been nothing short of phenomenal.

I highly recommend these tires.