Time for Service at 43k?

Hey do the Premiers have what they call "rim guard" in 215/45R17, a protruding ring on the sidewall, to protect rims a bit if you brush a curb? I think not, believe I've asked someone before, just can't remember. But I think not. (Now that your mpg is going up I'm starting to get lukewarm about that tire again, lol.)

Here's what I mean by rim guard, our Pilots:

 

I've got Pilot HX mxm4. Had to google to make sure I got that right, what a mouthful.

They're not bad at all. I'm actually toying with replacing with same, when the time comes. But, they're about $50 more per tire. They seem to roll easy, decent grip when cornering, track good, yeah I'm happy with them. They're getting a little noisy, not bad though.

The car's only 64,000 kms now, and I swap to snow tires for maybe 5000 km's every winter. They're around 6~7/32" remaining tread depth. It's debatable if I'll replace due to low tread depth or age. They were manufactured February 2009, so getting on. But so far just minor cracking in the tread grooves.

FWIW, we seemed to get about the same mpg, with either the 17" Pilots, or 15" Michelin X-Ice snow tires in 195/65R15 on steel rims.

My fuelly icon reflects pretty much all the miles since new. My wife mostly drove the first few years, and a fair number of short trips for her work. We're both retired now, and a bit more careful to consolidate trips, hypermile a bit. The last few tanks, not spectatular:

 

The Premiers are described and categorized on TireRack as LRR. There's a couple of terms Michelin uses: "Green X" (Defender, Energy Saver A/S, X-Ice) and "Michelin Total Performance" (Premier A/S). Not sure what the difference is, why the two terms. TireRack link, not sure why it's called "using cookies:

Using Cookies

Sounds like you're warming to the Premier A/S, maybe the mpg just had an off day. They are highly rated for traction, in particular once worn. If you go to Michelin site and put in your details they are the number one recommended tire, fwiw.

I'd really appreciate if you'd post updates, how you get on with this tire.

 

From Michelin's glossary section:



Hmm, can't find anything with "Michelin Total Performance" and mention of LRR. Maybe just TireRack?

 

FWIW the PIlot's are not described even by Michelin as "fuel efficient". They use to have a rating system on the Canadian site: Energy Saver A/S was 10 (out of 10) for fuel efficiency, Premier's and Primacy were 9, Defender were 8, Pilots were 7. Makes you wonder, just how much the definition matters.

Another thought: even with the Pilot's rim protectors, we've managed to scrape rims several times. I use touch up paint, our Classic Silver body color, it's exact match.

 

that's better.

 

no problem, i just rotate my laptop.

 

That's looking really good.