Michellin X-Tour tires

We use 'WinterClaw Extreme Grip WMX' tires with studs installed. I have got to say these things grip really well. When the rivers freeze over and we shift to driving across the rivers, these tires work great.

 

What is your mpg with the new tires compared to the mpg with the old tires?

 

Also: what were the old tires?

 

The X-tour seems to be an update to the Defender, with 80,000 mile guarantee, but quieter, I agree what are your before and after mpg numbers, and have you pumped them up to 40psi?

 

Have 9K miles on the same tire from Costco. Getting low 50s MPG in warmer weather with 38psi. Good tire.

 

I got Defenders put on our son's Civic Hybrid, and in my limitted experience driving with them (reset trip meter, driving from North Coquitlam to the airport, about 30km's) they seemed to roll pretty easy and I was getting pretty good numbers for that car.

There's Defenders, newer Defender T+H, and X-Tour. The Defenders I got had the "Green-X" label on sidewall, how about the X-Tour?

 

The X-Tour does not have the Green X logo. The logo now is Michelin "Total Performance".

 

What's the difference between "Green-X" and "Total Performance". Energy Saver A/S still says Green X. Ditto for Primacy HXM4 (in my 215/45R17 size). Others say "Total Performance", the new Defender T+H, their X-Tour Costco version, and the Premier A/S I believe. I get the sense, and I seem to recall reading something to that effect by Michelin, that "Total Performance" is more of a compromise, the balance shifted more towards traction, at expense of LRR?

Specified pressures are always cold pressures, ie: the pressure you read first thing in the morning, the tire cool. With 195/65R15 I'd have no qualms setting cold pressure to 38~40. OTOH, I don't like pushing it too far, think the increased stress on suspension and wheel bearings may be a risk.

 

Post again after driving for 500 miles?

 

Maybe it's the combination of new tires and lower psi? Wishful thinking on my part because I plan on getting these from Costco when I'm due for new tires.

 

I just replaced my second set of Bridgestone EP422 tires with the Michelin X-Tour from Costco three days ago. Below are my opinions when comparing the Bridgestone EP422 with the Michelin X-Tour.

Warranty: EP422 (80000km) vs. X-Tour (130,000km)
Price (Costco.ca): EP422 is a few dollars higher but with the rebate, it becomes a few dollars lower than X-Tour. Both are about the same price if not no rebate is offered.

Noise level:
It seems when running within city speed limit and normal road service, the noise level is almost the same. When running on highway speed and highway road service, the noise seems to be noticeable higher from the X-Tour.
The X-Tour seems to have a stiffer side wall structure so it feels a little more bumpy than the EP422. Siffer side wall probably provides better cornering feel.

Fuel Consumption:
Haven't used it long enough to compare but I am not too concern about the 10-15% difference. The Prius is already the lowest gas consumption vehicle in its class already.

My recommendation:
If you are not so sure whether you would like the X-Tour, I'd say stick with the Bridgestone EP422. There is nothing to dislike about the EP422. There is always a trade-off for X Tour's longer warranty.

 

My Michelin tires are the "Premier AS Total Performance." (They were on sale, plus a $70 Visa card mailed to home.)
I have approximately 9,500 miles on them now. My MPG may have dipped briefly, but it came back up to the normal 55-57 mpg. Just recently raised the psi to 42/41. The ride feels much better.

I had a hell of a mess after the first rotation. (at 6,500 miles.) They got VERY noisy, the tire shop did the X pattern. I also think they were not balanced correctly. So after 3 more balances, and 2 more rotations, and an alignment check... One year later the car is now driveable..
I don't think I will ever rotate them again.
.

 

Manual says front to back, back to front, no cross. Tell them specifically before you give them the key. Pernament pen mark a pair to know if the job was done correctly.

 

Which do we believe?

Toyota, and their front to back / back to front... (they don't even know what kind of tires we have).

Or Michelin, who makes the tires, and says to rotate a front wheel drive tire: front to back / back to front with an X.

(It doesn't even matter anymore. I just drive it!)