Michelin Energy Saver A/S Review

I recently borrowed a set of Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires (195/65/15) for my 2012 Prius Three. I wanted to test the mpg capabilities and differences between my AVID Ascend and Primacy MXM4 tires. The Energy Savers were already broken in by The Critic. Thanks, Mike!

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From TireRack.com

Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Tire Specs (195/65/15 89T)
Michelin Energy Saver A/S (All-Season)
UTQG=480 A B, 44psi, 9.5/32, 18lbs, 832, $109 ($70 available rebate)

My initial impression of the Energy Saver A/S tire is first how cushy the ride is and how poorly it handles. Those thoughts vanish once the mpg figures start accumulating! Mpg is OMG! For this review I kept tire pressure at 42/40psi.

Noise: This tire may be quieter than the OE AVID S33D and are a bit quieter than the AVID Ascend. Over smooth surfaces and rough surfaces the tire is pretty quiet although you can definitely tell when road surfaces change.

Handling: let's start off by saying if handling is a big priority for you then you may want to look at another tire. This tire doesn't really handle well at all. In fact, it can be a bit scary if you are not used to it. From mild tramlining to a weird "butt jiggle" that occurs on grooved cement highways, I was not impressed with the handling characteristics of this tire. The ride was comfortable and relatively quiet compared to my 17" Primacy MXM4 and the 15" AVID Ascend. I feel these tires are a step down from the OE AVID S33D and the AVID Ascend. Upon installing them I was reminded of the mushy handling of the stock GenII with its undersized tires. It just feels sloppy. Steering input is also pretty vague. This is a smooth riding tire.

*Update* I'm not sure if I just got used to the handling or what but after 10,000 miles the handling seems fine for an every day tire as long as you're not the racing type. Totally acceptable IMO. It is a very comfortable tire as well.

Traction: Traction is pretty good despite my negative opinion of its handling characteristics. I have been able test them in anything but dry weather, however. Once set into a sharp curve the tires stick well enough but will start to protest if pushed hard.

Mileage: These tires are insane when it comes to fuel efficiency! They roll very well which enhances typical hypermiling techniques like gliding and EV Mode take-offs. Independent testing by TireRack.com has shown these tires can improve mpg by 3.8mpg over non-LRR tires and 2.7mpg vs. the OE Integrity tire on the GenII. Many Prius owners have reported a 2-3mpg increase over their OE tires despite the Energy Saver A/S being brand new and not yet broken in! I only have a couple of hundred miles worth of testing on these tires but I have spent all of that time testing the mpg capabilities and handling traits. I was simply astounded by the mpg achieved immediately following installation. It appears my mpg went up by about 3mpg over my 15" AVID Ascends and by approx. 9.5mpg vs. my Michelin Primacy MXM4s when driven conservatively and using basic hypermiling techniques. I drove using no special hypermiling tricks (like pulse and glide) other than driving 5mph below the speed limit of 65mph. My first trip from Pleasanton to Woodland resulted in 64.8mpg over 82 miles or so. My morning commute which usually runs 48-50mpg resulted in a 53.4mpg trip. My evening commute usually runs 70-78mpg resulted in 80.8mpg! Even after running an 80 mile trip at 70+mph and the AC blasting i am still sitting at 62.8mpg. My commute features 99% highway driving and an 1,150ft. elevation change.

*Update* after purchasing my own set of Energy Saver A/S tires and running them for about 10,000 miles I am thoroughly impressed with them as an every day tire and the fuel economy just kept getting better. I eventually broke all of my previous mpg records. My best morning commute was 58mpg and my best return commute was 90mpg. My best tank was over 70mpg and 700miles and I was able to do pulse & glide sessions that resulted in 95mpg for over 200 miles and one session of 109mpg for 62miles.

Appearance: It's a pretty average looking tire. It's not ugly nor does it look sexy and stylish like some of the Nitto or other race-inspired tires. look at the pics and you be the judge.

Price: The price of the Energy Saver A/S is comparable to other premium LRR offerings like the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max and Yokohama AVID Ascend. This assumes you get the ever-present $70 rebate offered by Michelin. It's a Michelin tire and as such they command a premium price so be sure to shop around for a retailer that offers the rebate! Note: Costco alternates the rebate every other month so if they are not on sale then wait a month. Due to their increase in efficiency, longevity and reasonable price, the Energy Saver A/S offer the lowest cost per mile to run of any tire I know of. The AVID Ascend runs a very close second.

Summary: This tire is designed for mpg. I am easily averaging 63-64mpg. A feat I was only able to achieve just once with my AVID Ascends. What it lacks in handling and steering response it makes up for in spades with fuel efficiency. If you care more about high mpg numbers than you do slinging the car around corners then this tire is for you. It is a very cost effective tire despite the higher up front purchase cost. In the long run, the Energy Saver A/S will save you money over nearly any other tire on the market. Hypermilers and penny pinchers need look no further.

Tires : Test Results : The Tire Rack

 

It's funny but when I started seeing these really higher numbers I immediately thought of my hypermiling buddies like Codyroo and Tony who do not run these tires yet still achieve fantastic numbers. Now if we can get them and Hill to make the switch...... Muaha

 

So will I. Well after I burn through my 17" tires so they don't go to waste.

 

You may have to ask Costco to order the Energy Saver A/S for you since I didn't see them on the website. They also erroroneously recommend the Primacy MXM4 (W) for our cars as opposed the the (V) rated tire. The W is much more expensive and not needed.