OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
I've never had that happen. We have a member that lives in Arizona who did, but that's something I've never had happen in Canada. I've owned MANY sets of Michelin tires.
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
- Thread starter OVERKILL
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Shel_B
Site Donor 2023
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I spent a summer in Bridgewater NS ... is the Michelin plant still there? I'd be interested in how the tires perform for you.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Yes, apparently Michelin has TWO plants in Nova Scotia, I was quite surprised by that. Not a whole lot of industry there. My wife is from NS and two of my sisters live there.
I've experienced the issues he's mentioned. It's what made me switch from Michelin to Nokian - couldn't handle any more sidewall bulges.
This was over a decade ago though and when doing some research, I see posts from back then saying "Runflat tyres are at least 3 to 5 times more prone to sidewall damage/bulges than regular tubeless."
Rapid tire cracking has also been experienced with Nokian but spraying Aerospace 303 on the sidewall once a week seems to have fixed that. If you park outdoors, the issue is inevitable.
Looks like I might be switching back as there's a set of Pilot Sport 5's on the way for next spring to replace the Z-line A/S.
I have not had Michelin RFT. I know they are generally considered better than "stonebridges" in BMW community.
But, I am avoiding RFT like a plague.
I had two sets of X-Ice 2 since 2015, one on X5, another on Sienna, and none had those issues. Also, had PSS on VW CC. Now, that is completely different animal in its own category.
As already noted earlier in this thread, TyreReview tested the non-SUV versions of these tires, in size 205/55R16, and there are some differences in relative performance compared to the Motor.no test of SUV tires in size 235/55R18.
Interestingly, the 205mm wide X-Ice SNOW scored #1 in resistance to hydroplaning, the R5 scored #8, and the VC7 scored #7.
In wet braking, the VC7, R5, and X-Ice were midpack performers, and had braking distances (from 80 km/hr) within 0.55 meters of each other. VC7 was shortest, X-Ice was longest.
The question is: what happens after 10k?
Michelin claims the SNOW will be superior to its rivals.
From a post I made in an older thread, quoting a journalist at the X-Ice SNOW press event :
Michelin Introduces New "X-Ice Snow"
Michelin had a recent event in Umea, Sweden to introduce the replacement for the X-Ice Xi3 and Latitude Xi2 studless winter tires. https://shina.guide/press/22903/#more-22903 Some excerpts from the Russian report linked above (with the help of Google Translate): Quote ...Michelin has...
bobistheoilguy.com
They always claim that. They did that with Xi3.
They actually did tests with worn-out XI3. From my experience with all Michelin tires I had, they do retain performance better than anyone.
Is the apparent superiority of the X-Ice SNOW (non-SUV version) in hydroplaning resistance confirmed by other tests? No.
I looked at last years tests by MOTOR magazine in Norway. They tested tires in the size 205/55R16, same size as tested by TyreReview in the UK.
The MOTOR tests show the X-Ice SNOW to be essentially equal in hydroplaning resistance to the Nokian R3 and Continental VC7.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 was the clear leader in all the wet performance tests: braking, handling, and hydroplaning. It's wet performance superiority was demonstrated again in this years MOTOR magazine test of 235/55R18 tires.
The GY Winter Command Ultra looks like the same exact pattern as the Ultra Grip Ice 2. I wonder if the compound is different or labelling for NA vs. others? My Accord was good in dry and wet but I'm mostly highway, I don't recall any personal at the limit tests or emergencies as I try to plan accordingly and leave space. Snow was good in my testing. I had some balancing issues and the tread is almost 1" narrower than X-ice of the same size.
My last set of primacy's cracked so bad my dealer replaced two for free- but so cal is a harsher place than most for tires to stay outside.
Maybe a bad run of tires? Maybe normal for them.
I am in an extremely dry, high-altitude climate, so not sure. Though, my cars are always garaged.
The R5 had a float speed of 60.3 km/hrIn this big test of 16 different studded and studless SUV 235/55R18 winter tires..........
The R5 had the lowest score for hydroplaning resistance among the 8 studless tires tested, and the SNOW had the 2nd lowest score. In other words, they are both mediocre in hydroplaning resistance.
Her er de beste vinterdekkene til SUV-en
Piggdekk eller piggfritt? Motor har testet åtte av hver for at du skal velge de beste vinterdekkene til biler i SUV-klassen.www.motor.no
The X-Ice SNOW had a float speed of 61.9 km/hr
The Conti VC7 had a float speed of 68 km/hr
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 had a float speed of 70.2 km/hr
Mine sit in the sun from day1.
Yes, I agree, the two tires do have identical tread designs. And as you say the difference ,if any, may be in rubber formulation. As I understand it having the same winter tread design but with different winter rubber formulations and different tire names for different markets is not unheard of. Continental was doing that around 8-10 years ago, as I recall.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Well, first day out in the snow with them today, I'm extremely impressed with their performance on ice (which I experienced this evening) and in snow:
I have a set on the Prius , they work well .I tried lots of snows over the years,. I found the Bridgestones worked well also....But I'm sticking to the Michelins now , for 2 reasons. One, the feel of the Mich. are almost the same as summer tires. Brid. are very mushy, and I hate that as an aggressive driver. And is I tow a large snowmobile trailer with the XC, the better handling is very important to me. 2, the Mich. last longer. When the Xi wear ont on the XC , I'll prob. get a set of these.
