Michelin Primacy MXV4 vs. Bridgstone Turanza Serenity
 

I am almost ready to get tires for my 1995 E320 and thought I was going to get the Turanze LSH again, but they were discontinued. I saw the new Bridgestone Turanza Serenity replacement and thought they would be better than the LSH, but the Tirerack review makes it seem like they must be worse than the tire they replaced. The Michelin primacy MXV4 beat them in the test, even in wet handling! The old MXV4 plus wasn't even close to the Turanza LSH in the wet, based on the Tirerack tests and my own experience with both tires on my car.

I liked the quiet comfortable ride of the old Michelin MXV4 plus, but they squealed too much and they really stunk in the rain. The Turanza was great in the rain and it never squealed. The Turanze LSH wasn't quite as quiet as the Michelin, but I thought they were good enough to go for them again especially considering the wet handling.

Anyway, now I am confused. I wish Tirerack would test the old Turanza LSH and compare them to the new tires. It is hard to figure out with both the Michelin Primacy MXV4 and the Turanza Serenity being new tires. I think I may have to go back to the Michelin and try their new primacy MXV4.

I am just fishing for anyone's experience with either of the new tires.

This won't answer your question, but just an observation.

Was running on my 1998 C-class, Michelin MXV4 Green H rated, ( my second set on this car ).

Needing new tires I purchased Potenza RE960 AS's because I had a $100 rebate. And for $220 total after rebate they were a great deal and I have no regrets. The Bridgestone tires do seem much different then the MIchelin's.

If I had to guess the Michelin's provided higher levels of grip in turns and were very good in the snow. Even though the Michelin's seem to have higher limits the Bridgestone's seem safer (easier) with subtle warnings and lower limits (have't tested the Potenza's in the snow).

I also got some annoying 'jounce' sounds over undulations at mid-speeds with the Michelin's that other tires never produced.

In the previous post I mentioned a`jounce` sound I got with my Michelin tires. I just realized I get the same sound, maybe not quite as loud, with my new Bridgestone tires, so I assume the noise is due to the chassis and not tires.

ksing - I looked at those new Michelin MXV4 Primacy tires when I was shopping for tires for my E430. I decided to go for Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires and I'm very happy I did. They were only slightly more expensive than the Primacy's and they are V-rated. Same wear rating, etc. Excellent handling, very quiet and superb wet weather handling.

Reviews on them have been very positive, you may want to check them out.

Thank you for the tip. I will take a look at the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S. In general, I am afraid of V rated tires, only because I had one bad experience with a set that made so much noise I ended up having them replaced. I thought it had something to do with the V rating and H is really plenty for my driving habits.

thanks again for the tip

No problem, you're welcome! These tires are very quiet - no issues at all with noise.

I have also gone with the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S. I perfered the X GT, but can't get them anymore. The exaltos have been fine on my 126 and 107. I get the highest speed rating I can. To me it just means a tire built to take higher stress levels. A tire build to withstand sustained 150+ is built stronger than a tire rated only for a sustained 130. I have bought several MBs with the old MXV4s and could not wait to replace them. I think they were made of wood.