Michelin Primacy MXV4 Review.

[AWDFTW]

The rebate seems to only go a month before it reappears, so no worries there. Tires are non-directional so a standard rotation can be done. I think the H rated is fine for a non-turbo model, but would go with the V for the turbo's tweaked suspension and performance.

[plain OM]

Originally Posted by plain OM

I'd like to hear from others as well. It's interesting that for the two versions of the 225/55/17, as far as I can tell from the Michelin web-site, all the specs are identical except the speed rating and the Michelin part number. . . . .

Called both Michelin U.S. and Michelin/B.F. Goodrich Canada (toll-free numbers)about the different speed ratings on the otherwise exact same tires. Both provided the same answer -- the speed rating difference is in the rubber compound. The higher speed compound is designed to better dissipate heat build-up. Surprisingly, I was also told that the V rated tire compound is softer, but both tires have the same mileage warranty rating.

As there are, apparently, no other construction differences, I would imagine there would be little or no noticeable difference in ride quality or handling (assuming it's not at the top speed of the tire).

Both Michelin sources reiterated what I've heard from tire dealers -- if the original factory tire was V rated, the same or higher rating can be used, but not lower.

[AWDFTW]

1st update: Road trip part 1.
Miles on tires: just shy of 1,000.

Drove from Chicago to Tennessee yesterday, car handled great. Didn't hit any rain on the way down but expect to do so on the way back up. Tires were mostly quiet, the sing a bit on concrete but I can barely hear them on asphalt. Forgot to check my PSI before I left (oops.) and they are just a little lower than I want them, so I'll be adjusting that today. MPG remainded steady, slightly above what I got last time on the partly worn G009's, but not so much so that I cannot rule out standard variance. Trip MPG was 29 on the way down.

[fhryder]

MXV4's came on my '02 TDI
quiet and great fuel mileage , but there's a downside


I had bought the car as a rebuilder with 22k on the clock (it had hydroplaned I think, through a farmer's field, till it met a rock wall), shortly after I got it back on the road I was travelling on I95 north of Augusta ME and came upon a thunderstorm,the car hydroplaned, went about 3 ft sideways before I killed the power. I would not want to have had it on cruse.

I still have 2 of the tires, but I am very lightfooted and careful
in the wet, and remove them before the snow. They're absolutely helpless in snow.

I think the 4 big slots around the circumfrence trap water
and reduce traction, just my $0.02

Frank

[stant01]

fhryder,
If your MXV4's came on an '02, you might read the sidewall to verify if they are Primacy MXV4's or Energy MXV4's. Similar names, totally different tires. Energy's have been around a decade or more; Primacy's have only been out a couple of years.

We had the Energy's as original equipment on an '01 Honda Accord, and after about 20,000 miles they were miserable in the wet. Truly scary. I gave them away and put a set of Bridgestone Turanza LS V's on and the difference was dramatic. THe new Primacy's are supposed to be even better than the Turanza's.

[mntob2011]

is anyone running michelin latitudes. i live in eastern idaho by west yellowstone and need good all season.. or would you get the michelin mxv4's.

[4mal]

I just put on the Primacy MXV4's. Ran them up to Mt Hood to ski Tuesday. On the way up thre is a warm spot. It was just dumping down rain the Primacy's handled that real well. Maybe not as sweetly as the Triple Treads I just took off but still really well. That turned to slush, on packed ice and then about 10 " of new in the parking lot. I didn't come away overly impressed with them as a winter tire. They did OK - I did get home after all and there were 2 Outbacks off the road plus a 4 wheel something or other stuffed in a snow bank. Early season, Hwy 35 south out of Hood River up to the hill - folks just don't seem to get it without paying the 'inattention tax'... at least this time there were no apparent injuries.

So my initial impression of the MXV4 is that it's a good rain tire and acceptable as a 'snow'. Similar overall the the TT. I got 45 out of the TT's with another 5 - 10 K left in them. Hopefully, the MXV4's will give me about the same ...

[fuel98rider]

I have had the Primacys on my 08 for about 10,000 miles now. They will never see snow (unless **** freezes over here in Florida), but we do see lots of rain. These do very well in the rain, as long as you do not over-drive them, and that would be the same with any tire in the rain. They are hands down 100% better than the stock Potenzas. They are quieter than the Potenzas, and in general make the car handle better. As with most Michelins, they look like they will last forever.

When I bought them, I originally went to Sam's because they had them in stock. What they had was the "H" rated version, not the "V" rated version. When they looked up my car, they said it called for "V" rated tires. Sam's would not install the "H" rated tire for legal reasons. They would order the "V" tires and could have them in a week. As I was riding on the spare, I could not wait. I then went to a local tire shop, and was told basically the same thing regarding the "H" rated tires on the Outback. They would only install the same rating that was called for in their computer. I called a Tire Kingdom and Discount Tire and was told the same thing...they would only put "V" rated tires on the car. So, with the $70 rebate, Tire Kingdom had the lowest price, and went with them.

I have heard others say that they have had shops put lower speed rating tires on their cars, but nobody that I talked to in Orlando would do it on the Subaru.

[AWDFTW]

SNOW UPDATE.

Current miles: 90,500ish
Miles on tires: 3,000ish

Well, being in the mid west I did what any idiot...no, what any person with a lacking of common sense/Subaru owner would do. I took a 250 mile road trip today. Through Indiana. Where it was near white out at times (whoops, wasn't expecting it to be THAT bad).

Encountered black/glare ice, frozen packed snow, packed wet slush, and powder. These are not winter tires by any stretch of the imagination, nor do I expect them to be. I'd have to say a if I had Nokian WRG2, General Arctics, or really any decent winter tire my trip would have been a little more comfortable...but none the less it was fun.

Powder: blasted through a foot like it wasn't there.
Packed wet slush: not bad, my wheel wells kept getting packed (need silicone spray or something) which got noisy and affected handling a bit after a while.
Frozen packed down snow: This actually felt a good bit like driving on a dirt/gravel road. Oi, about rattled my fillings out at 30 MPH.
Ice: About the grip I would expect from a non-studded tire....i.e.-very little. What these tires do have going from them was a good sense of warning when they were losing grip though. I'd get a bit of steering wheel feedback (twitches) before the car would actually start sliding one way or the other. As expected, this only occurred under moderate/heavy/sudden braking. However I was able to start from a dead stop on a big patch of glare ice with no wheel spin...unlike the Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of me....who obviously could go anywhere because they were in a Jeep with nearly bald all-seasons.

All in all, I'm content for the comfort they have on the interstate and their wet/dry traction.

[fuel98rider]

Originally Posted by AWDFTW

SNOW UPDATE.

Current miles: 90,500ish
Miles on tires: 3,000ish

Well, being in the mid west I did what any idiot...no, what any person with a lacking of common sense/Subaru owner would do. I took a 250 mile road trip today. Through Indiana. Where it was near white out at times (whoops, wasn't expecting it to be THAT bad).

Encountered black/glare ice, frozen packed snow, packed wet slush, and powder. These are not winter tires by any stretch of the imagination, nor do I expect them to be. I'd have to say a if I had Nokian WRG2, General Arctics, or really any decent winter tire my trip would have been a little more comfortable...but none the less it was fun.

Powder: blasted through a foot like it wasn't there.
Packed wet slush: not bad, my wheel wells kept getting packed (need silicone spray or something) which got noisy and affected handling a bit after a while.
Frozen packed down snow: This actually felt a good bit like driving on a dirt/gravel road. Oi, about rattled my fillings out at 30 MPH.
Ice: About the grip I would expect from a non-studded tire....i.e.-very little. What these tires do have going from them was a good sense of warning when they were losing grip though. I'd get a bit of steering wheel feedback (twitches) before the car would actually start sliding one way or the other. As expected, this only occurred under moderate/heavy/sudden braking. However I was able to start from a dead stop on a big patch of glare ice with no wheel spin...unlike the Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of me....who obviously could go anywhere because they were in a Jeep with nearly bald all-seasons.

All in all, I'm content for the comfort they have on the interstate and their wet/dry traction.

This is especially comforting. We are getting ready to drive to Rochester NY from Florida on Saturday with the Outback and these tires. Wasn't too terribly concerned with the Outback (I have done this many times with an Impala), but I know it will make my wife feel safer on the trip.