Michelin Pilot XGT H4 vs. Dunlop SP Sport 5000

[DSinger]

This is for a friend...

Which is a better tire?

[Chiragp]

Depends on what he is looking for and what size/characteristics.

I would say the Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Asymmetrical are more performance bias then the Michelin Pilot XGT H4. The regular Dunlop SP Sport 5000 in H-rating I would not buy, and would go with Michelin Pilot XGT H4 if I was going to get H-rated.

I have them both, Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Asymmetrical (205/55/15 up front) and Michelin Pilot XGT H4 (205/60/15 in the rear) chose them both for their own characteristics. The Dunlop are very well rounded for a W-rated tire. The wear is very good, and handling is incredible as well as wet weather performance. However, I didn't need something this performance oriented in the rear because I wanted to balance out my car's understeering characteristics. So I went with an H-rated tire and Michelin quality, the Michelin Pilot XGT H4.

Performance = Dunlop SP Sport 5000
Wear/Touring = Michelin Pilot XGT H4

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

I've just got 4 Pilot XGts in 205/60/15. They:

* hold very well
* offer good handling/comfort compromise (no razor-sharp turn-in, but they don't wallow either)
* wear evenly (and seem to last well)
* are quiet
* very good in wet
* aren't very good on aggressive highway-surface-grooving (for water runoff) - they dance a little back and forth between 50-70mph.

I'd buy them again - they were of *very* reasonable expense.

I bought the Dunlops (205/55/15 W) about 3 weeks ago and I must tell you that the performance is far better that my prevous Michelins. The ride quieter, the car holds its line quite well and react quite quick to your steering. For the value and performance you get I would reccommend them to anyone about to replace tires. Besides they are $50 cheaper each than the Michelin V rated tire.

[Luke@tirerack]

In the testing that we conducted we found the Dunlop tire to offer superior handling and traction in all compromised conditions as well as a quiter ride. The Michelin was marginally better in dry conditions on the track and had the best wear characteristcs. The biggest reason for these differences is due to the newer tire building technology used in the Dunlop Sport 5000 which was just introduced late last year.
Thanks, Luke



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Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
The Tire Rack
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