Michelin Energy MXV4+ Green Tires

tomdeimos · 07-05-2005, 06:53 PM

My goal was to keep or improve the LRR but have a bit better than oem performance especially in rain. Don't care about snow, since I switch to real snow tires in winter.

So I got a set of Michelin MXV4+ tires to compare to the oems. They even label them "green"! Got wheels too from Tire Rack.

So far no rain yet, but expect some later in the week. So my first impressions are preliminary:

First noticed the tires are way quieter than my oem ones. Worth it just for that!
Secondly I noticed softer ride and better grip esp on rear wheels
when going over bumps.

So far I am very pleased with the improvements. And after driving on them for like 30 miles I see no mileage degradation, or it may be slightly better. I'll have to see after a tank or two to be sure.

But I am wondering if I made a mistake: Michelin has these in the stock size, but they have even better ones (according to their web info) in the 195-65/R15 size, MXV4S8's. These would change the speedometer a bit, but they claim even better performance and lower rolling resistance.

**Tideland Prius** · 07-05-2005, 09:23 PM

MXV4 Plus is a really nice set of tyres. Those came on our Camry as OEM equipment and they're really quiet.

Oddly, when we asked if they're still selling the MXV4 Plus, various places said no.

Anyone else have experience with the MXM4 or MXV4 S8?

What do you mean by mistake? As in you're wondering if you should've gone with the S8 instead of the Plus?

tomdeimos · 07-05-2005, 09:51 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"104384)</div>

Quote:

...........................
What do you mean by mistake? As in you're wondering if you should've gone with the S8 instead of the Plus?[/b]

Yes. I hope someday we'll get real numbers for LRR ratings, so we can tell what we're buying and what we're missing out on.

I found the grean seal rankings, but the MXV4S8's are too new I guess.
http://www.greenseal.org/recommendations/C...gresistance.pdf

**Tideland Prius** · 07-05-2005, 11:13 PM

ohh I see.

Thanks for the link!

mikepaul · 07-06-2005, 09:29 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomdeimos\";p=\"104336)</div>

Quote:

But I am wondering if I made a mistake: Michelin has these in the stock size, but they have even better ones (according to their web info) in the 195-65/R15 size, MXV4S8's. These would change the speedometer a bit, but they claim even better performance and lower rolling resistance.
[/b]

I don't notice I'm passing any cars with my 195/65-R15 tires, while thinking I'm still going the speed limit. Too much regularly practiced speeding around here.

And I'd like to know what rolling resistance I've got now, since I'm hoping to need at least one more set of tires before the car starts to go funny on me and maybe another 80,000 mile tire would be better next time...

tomdeimos · 07-06-2005, 04:02 PM

Today we got rain!

Tires are still great. Good as ones on other cars I've had, and way better than the oem Goodyears. I feel like they are grabbing the road with glue compared to the old tires. And unlike what I read about some of the other better tires, I see no drop in mileage.

mikepaul · 07-06-2005, 05:08 PM

Goodyear's propaganda on Low Rolling Resistance is that the cost of replacing LRR tires will eat into the gas savings. I'm not sure if my math is right, but if all variables work out as currently known, I'll lose 5% of my possible MPGs over the 80,000 mile life of the tires. That's about 1778 gallons of gas at 45MPG versus 1667 gallons at 48MPG. 111 extra gallons will cost me an additional $222 based on today's best price around here. If a LRR tire would last 40,000 miles, it'd have to cost no more than $200 per set of 4 for the next required set to actually save me money over 80,000 miles, based on the $380 my TripleTreds will cost me after rebates. (Where are those rebates?...)

All estimates are rough and subject to reality checks, but unless my average dips lower and stays lower for the whole 80,000 miles, I'm not that bad off and I feel better in the rain...

williaeh22 · 07-06-2005, 06:49 PM

How can you compare MPG with the OEM tires if the tire pressure is not brought into the equation?

mikepaul · 07-07-2005, 08:49 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(williaeh22\";p=\"104811)</div>

Quote:

How can you compare MPG with the OEM tires if the tire pressure is not brought into the equation?
[/b]

I still run the TripleTreds at 42/40, like I did the OEMs. I believe TripleTreds aren't as close to their limit at that pressure as the OEMs were...

925PriusGuy · 07-07-2005, 11:40 AM

tomdeimos,

Would you mind posting a picture of your Prius with your new wheels? I have thought about getting the same wheels and I'd like to see how they look with the lines of the Prius.

Thanks!

Patrick

07-05-2005, 06:53 PM	#1
tomdeimos Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 995 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Michelin Energy MXV4+ Green Tires My goal was to keep or improve the LRR but have a bit better than oem performance especially in rain. Don't care about snow, since I switch to real snow tires in winter. So I got a set of Michelin MXV4+ tires to compare to the oems. They even label them "green"! Got wheels too from Tire Rack. So far no rain yet, but expect some later in the week. So my first impressions are preliminary: First noticed the tires are way quieter than my oem ones. Worth it just for that! Secondly I noticed softer ride and better grip esp on rear wheels when going over bumps. So far I am very pleased with the improvements. And after driving on them for like 30 miles I see no mileage degradation, or it may be slightly better. I'll have to see after a tank or two to be sure. But I am wondering if I made a mistake: Michelin has these in the stock size, but they have even better ones (according to their web info) in the 195-65/R15 size, MXV4S8's. These would change the speedometer a bit, but they claim even better performance and lower rolling resistance.

07-06-2005, 04:02 PM	#6
tomdeimos Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 995 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Michelin Energy MXV4+ Green Tires Today we got rain! Tires are still great. Good as ones on other cars I've had, and way better than the oem Goodyears. I feel like they are grabbing the road with glue compared to the old tires. And unlike what I read about some of the other better tires, I see no drop in mileage.

07-06-2005, 05:08 PM	#7
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,764 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Goodyear's propaganda on Low Rolling Resistance is that the cost of replacing LRR tires will eat into the gas savings. I'm not sure if my math is right, but if all variables work out as currently known, I'll lose 5% of my possible MPGs over the 80,000 mile life of the tires. That's about 1778 gallons of gas at 45MPG versus 1667 gallons at 48MPG. 111 extra gallons will cost me an additional $222 based on today's best price around here. If a LRR tire would last 40,000 miles, it'd have to cost no more than $200 per set of 4 for the next required set to actually save me money over 80,000 miles, based on the $380 my TripleTreds will cost me after rebates. (Where are those rebates?...) All estimates are rough and subject to reality checks, but unless my average dips lower and stays lower for the whole 80,000 miles, I'm not that bad off and I feel better in the rain... __________________ 2004 Seaside #9/BC as of 1/3/2004 Oil now any GOOD synthetic I can get on sale Michelin Hydroedge 195/65R15 tires since 2/5/2009 100,000 miles as of 8/16/2010

07-07-2005, 11:40 AM	#10
925PriusGuy Winter Gray Prius Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northern California- SF East Bay Posts: 148 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 53 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 3	Re: Michelin Energy MXV4+ Green Tires tomdeimos, Would you mind posting a picture of your Prius with your new wheels? I have thought about getting the same wheels and I'd like to see how they look with the lines of the Prius. Thanks! Patrick

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07-05-2005, 09:23 PM	#2
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,989 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,179 Times in 852 Posts Friends: 32	MXV4 Plus is a really nice set of tyres. Those came on our Camry as OEM equipment and they're really quiet. Oddly, when we asked if they're still selling the MXV4 Plus, various places said no. Anyone else have experience with the MXM4 or MXV4 S8? What do you mean by mistake? As in you're wondering if you should've gone with the S8 instead of the Plus?

07-05-2005, 11:13 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,989 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,179 Times in 852 Posts Friends: 32	ohh I see. Thanks for the link!

07-06-2005, 06:49 PM	#8
williaeh22 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 19 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	How can you compare MPG with the OEM tires if the tire pressure is not brought into the equation?