Michelin Energy Tires/who is using them

it does not improves feel but it increases front grip, at least on Gen III.

15" LRR tires at near max PSI on some pretty dirty pavement, what can I say? Lack of grip aside it feels pretty neutral.

F8L, would it be safe to assume that there could be a ~10% difference in how tire reacts due to difference in construction?

for all we know it could be due to temperature, as lower inflated tire would warm up to higher temperature. Or could be b/c my/your pressure gauge is off by a couple PSI, YMMV

 

How do you know they are soft in the tread area? Or the sidewall? Are there numbers somewhere? Keep in mind that soft compound rubber and soft construction are two different things.

Somebody needs to do the experiment and run a set of the Energy Savers on a P-III at sidewall pressures or above, see what the wear pattern actually is, and post photos. Preferably someone who drives for mpg, not 4-wheel drifts. I'd give it a shot but it will be a while until I wear out the OEM's.

I know that it's a lighter car and totally different tire (though it is very LRR, probably LRRRR), I have 60,000miles on the OEM Bridgestone RE92's on my Insight-I, mostly at 65psi (sidewall is 44). With even wear, lots of tread left, and plenty of grip for my gentle driving style.

One of the considerations that gets lost is that with higher pressures the tire flexes less, so it heats up less. So the pressure doesn't increase as much on a long drive on a hot day as it would at door jamb pressures where there is more flexing. OTOH, an UNDER-inflated tire heats up incredibly.

 

An interesting tidbit:

Michelins are the only tire you can pull the tire bead/sidewall up with the lift of a finger (when off its rim of course). All other tires are dead stiff and won't flex like a Michelin.

 

Could be. Do you feel as if the sidewall is rolling over when cornering hard? I remember an old pair of Sumitomos that seemed to do that more so than other tires I had on that car. That could explain the sensitivity to over inflation.

True. and dusty pavement is bad news for grip.

 

Believe it or not it is driven for MPG.. avg out of the last 2 tanks ~60MPG, 65.7 for last 117mi at the moment. Just happen to believe that maintaining speed through corner helps MPG

with respect to softness it surprised me before they got mounted.. by just handling tire and squeezing thread from side to side and twisting.

the sidewalls are really soft at 42psi if you come to car in parking lot and push with one finger at roof level it starts wobble from side to side like a piece of jello.. really!

BTW keeping rear at 38PSI seems to be helping with highway stability, less sensitive to side wind, YMMV

 

Whatever you do, don't get these tires: michelin latitude tour HP & primacy mxv4.
It seems that the claim is false, the tennessee AG filed a suit against the company and it look like they me getting ready to settle.

 

It was settled 2 years ago. Much ado about nothing. 17 states split $375,000. Consumers got.....$0.00.

Here is a bit more info.

An investigation by the Attorney General of Tennessee found that Michelin's advertising claims were based solely on fuel costs and did not include other factors that might affect savings, such as initial cost of the tire or average life of the tire. The investigation also found that the Michelin tires were the most fuel-efficient tires only in 78 percent of its classes of tires.
As a result of this investigation, Michelin reached a multistate settlement with 17 state attorneys general in May 2009 to resolve claims that the company falsely advertised its fuel-efficient tires. As part of the settlement, Michelin agreed to pay a total of $375,000 to the participating states as well as substantiate its fuel efficiency claims in ads.

 

FYI: I have these tires and looks like they are only lasting 40K, showing separation and they are noisy now.