Michelin Tire Choices for my W124 Coupe
 

I'm going to buy a new set of 15" tires right now since I can't make up my mind on what upgraded rims I want. I have the standard 15 hole 15 x 6.5 rims. I was thinking of getting 205/60/VR15 instead of the 195/65/VR15. I have a credit with Michelin that I want to use, but all the reviews that I have read about Michelin are bad :confused:. Has Michelin gone down hill? I was considering the Pilot XGT V4. What do you guys think?

This is what the Michelin website recommends:
http://www.michelinman.com/mastapp/servlet/Controller/site.toolkit.advisor.ShowResults?vehicle=10891&source=TAHP

Here is what they have that fits my car:

195/65/15 91H -Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus or
195/65/15 89V -Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus or
215/60/15 94H -Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/784/ene...uslarge3ae.jpg
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195/65/15 91V -Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 (OEM)
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/2981/en...s8large0am.jpg
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195/65/15 91V -Michelin Pilot Primacy
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/6853/pi...cylarge5le.jpg
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195/65/15 89H -Michelin Pilot XGT H4 or
215/60/15 93H -Michelin Pilot XGT H4
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/945/pilotxgth4large0ed.jpg
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215/60/15 93V -Michelin Pilot XGT V4
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/6941/pi...v4large8cj.jpg

The other alternative would be from BFGoodrich since Michelin is the parent company.

205/60/15 91V -g-Force ™ Sport
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/6233/gf...rtlarge8un.jpg
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195/65/15 91H -Traction T/A® H/V -This is the only tire with a warranty
205/60/15 91H -Traction T/A® H/V -Warrany is 60,000 miles
215/60/15 94H -Traction T/A® H/V
http://img169.echo.cx/img169/576/tra...ahlarge7pk.jpg

I am a big fan of Michelin and will buy nothing else for my Volvo S70 or Mercedes E430.

I have never understood the poor reviews. It is my opinion that Michelin makes the best tires in the industry.

I have very very happy with the MXV4 Plus and would recommend them.

I have mxv4's energy on my 89 coupe. 205-60-15.

When these wear out.... I will be looking to upgrade rims and tires to 16.


My son has 16's on his sedan with contitracs. they are also good tires....

I like tires that have less noise... snow is a non issue.

I Loved my Michelins too, but
 

I absolutely LOVED the quiet comfortable ride of my Michelin MXV4 Plus, but I hated the squealing and they were not great in the rain on my rear wheel drive, no traction control, 1995 E320.

Back in the day, I had hand-dipped tires from Holland on my bicycle and they were incredibly supple. You could corner like crazy, even though the tires were as skinny as you can imagine. Ever since, I have had this thing for supple tires and I think the Michelin is the most supple tire you can buy. I didn’t choose the Michelin this time, however, because of the rain performance and the squealing.

Which car do you have the Michelin MXV4 Plus on? What kind of mileage did you get from them? Have you bought a second set of them, because of your good experience with them?

How do you like the Energy MXV4's in the 205-60-15 on your coupe? How's the traction and handling and what kind of mileage did you get from them? Are you looking to upgrade because you just want to or are you not happy with something?

Squealing from high speeds during cornering?
I do understand that the MXV4 are the oem tires for this car, but that was back in 1989. Things have changed now and there are new tires and new technologies. What do you think of the Michelin Pilot XGT in the H or V for example? They both have a similar name, but different tread design.

Michelins are very good at some things
 

The squealing was during cornering, but I am not sure I would say it was at very high speeds. The way they sounded, you would have thought I was practicing for Daytona, but I was actually just having a little fun maintaining speeds through turns. They also made noise just turning around in convenience store parking lots. In general, there was just too muck tire talk. At the same time, although the tires made some squealing noise while cornering, they seemed to hold the road just fine. In addition, as I said above, they were very comfortable and quiet in terms of road noise on the highway. I would have to say that they were the quietest and most comfortable tire that I have ever driven on the highway.

I have not tried other varieties of Michelins.

I always thought of Michelins as the very best tires, period. More recently, however, people seem to be giving the Bridgestone tires the edge. I switched. I suppose it would be an understatement to say that I was not impressed with the winter traction of the Bridgestone Turanza LSH. In addition, initially they were definitely not quite as comfortable or quiet as the Michelins. Now that the weather is warmer, the Bridgestone tires seem more comparable to the Michelins, in terms of road noise and comfort, although I would still give the edge to the Michelin. The Bridgestones are definitely better in the rain and they do not squeal, ever.

I have them on my 2000 S70, and they only have about 8,000 miles on them.

I had two sets on the 1993 300E (3.2) "E320" that I sold to JCE. The tires were superb on this car. Very, very quiet; tracked perfectly straight, handled well in the rain. I can't imagine a better tire.

My recently purchased 2000 E430 came with brand new Michelin Pilot Sports, and my opinion is that they are an inferior tire. The Pilot Sports have a noticably harsher ride, and allow more tire noise.

My only complaint on the MXV4's is that I only got about 35,000 - 40,000 miles on them. I expect to get even less on the Pilot Sports.

on the 1989 ce , the Michelins help me get 20mpg...in combined driving...

Last week I got 22 mpg...but I would say it was about 70 highway...

I am not an aggressive driver.... they seem to be fine in the rain. My only gripe is that 16's seem nicer on my sons 300e. the Conti trac 16's just seem to keep the car more stable...can't put my finger on it...

Of course the coupe has a shorter wheelbase and is lower to the ground....

I guess what I should do...is switch his 16's to my car and see how it rides..before I make a decision.

Did you have the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus or Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 on the 300e?

Thank You

MXV4 Plus.

Oh, I also have another complaint on top of the fact that they didn't last that long. They are also expensive. Still, they are the only tire I will run on my cars. I have had so much bad experience with other tires, that it is just not worth the gamble anymore.

I never got more than 24,000 miles on any tire ever in my entire life. My last 2 sets only I only got 11,000 and 12,000 respectively.

suginami

Next time try the Pilot Sport PS 2 !
Unbelievable tires. ;)

Just got the tires installed and balanced today! I got an alignment too. That only took 20 minutes since the car was almost straight.

Here are the results of the alignment. The printer wasn't working so I had to write down the results:

Before

Front
Caster Left +10.25 ___________________Right +9.84
Camber Left - 0.08____________________Right -0.72
(In the Green Zone)___________________(In the Red Zone)

Rear
Toe Left +1/16_______________________Right +1/16
(In the Green Zone)___________________(In the Green Zone)


After

Front
Caster Left +10.24 ___________________Right +9.84
Camber Left - 0.08____________________Right -0.04
(In the Green Zone)___________________(In the Green Zone)

Rear
Toe Left +1/16_______________________Right +1/16
(In the Green Zone)___________________(In the Green Zone)


Here are some upclose pics of the tires. I haven't cleaned them yet. They are the Michelin Energy™ MXV4® S8 in the 195 65 VR15 size. Driving home they felt good. I only drove 4 miles so I don't have a full impression yet.

http://img88.echo.cx/img88/8880/michelintires2qe.jpg