aengus-xmv6
February 03, 2009 10:27 pm
I had a set of uniroyal rain tyres on one of the 2.0sei's, great grip, but I wore the fronts out in 9000 miles - going too hard in the corners most likely.
Michelin Pilot Primacy I found OK, but seems you can't get them in 205/60/15 these days, so I had the fronts replaced with Michelin E3's at quite a cost from goold old kr@pfck. Sure dry grip is ok, wet not so good, and as for stability, absolute..... cr@p!! very soft side walls. The V6 now has an uneasy wobble on some bends and turns that it never had before with primacy or Pirelli p6k's, and even in uneven roads pulling to a stop at slow speed....
very highly not recommended I'd say.
A premium name on the sidewall doesn't always equate to a good tyre, unfortunately, but at the time I needed the fronts replaced quickly, not that they we're too close to the limit, but with winter fast approaching (Nov) and me departing to Geneva, and very little to to sort it, I wanted to be sure the GF would be ok should grip become the problem as the roads get slippery.
I did think to switch them to the rear and have the primacys on the front as they are fairly new, but I've been in the tail-first scenario a few times in the XM, is manageable, but for someone who's not driven it much before (twice) I figure not a good idea, and I can see it happening to me again given the poorer grip from these E3's!!
I tend to find the general Mich as a brand are rubbish once they get below 3-4mm, esp compared to p6k's (and I include the primacys here too), and the energy brand generally always so from new, but that's probably partly down to the speed I go into corners etc
regards
Dave