"GREEN" SUBARU TIRES? ~ Thoughts on "The Green X" ~ the NEWEST Michelin Primacy MXM4

[Sue Bee XT]

This breaks-off from an earlier thread called "Michelin MXM4."
Much has been discovered about this tire series as these threads have developed.

It is unfortunate that Michelin has named it's tires so similarly.
Primacy vs. Pilot vs. Primacy Green X;
Adding the further similarity of MXM4 vs. MXV4 is like adding insult to injury.
They are all different animals ~ but the names are just too similar.
Now let's rate 'em: H or V.

No wonder there seems to be so many conflicting reviews available online.

For example, 2 of the 3 reviews at Discount Tire were clearly in error.
It's highly unlikely 34,000 miles could have put on a tire that had only been out about 2 months.
The reviewers were talking about another tire, but the Green X took the hit.
CLICK HERE for link.

You may wish to review FSuperDuty's very helpful input for distinctions between
Michelin Primacy MXV4 and MXM4 and Michelin Pilot models on the aforementioned thread.

THIS THREAD is about the newest addition to the Primacy series:
Michelin Primacy MXM4 "GREEN X",
which was brand-new as of Summer 2010.
It is the one that uses the sunflower oil technology.

TIP, if you want this NEW Primacy tire with the "sunflower oil" technology,
you must specify to your tire dealer:
"NEW Michelin Primacy MXM4 ~ GREEN X"
(For Turbo use 97V; non-turbo can use H.)

Just to clarify, my "SueBee" is a 2006 Subaru Outback 2.5XT Limited.

... I'll go out on a limb and just say it:
"I think this tire could (and, perhaps, should) become VERY HOT with the Outback and Turbo Outback Subaru culture."
If you're looking for a performance-leaning, nature-lovin', all-season, that is.

Many "new" tires rolling onto the market now are going to be LRR (low roll-resistance),
so that may simply become the new "stock standard."

But I am excited about finding and supporting "more eco-friendly" products,
given they don't compromise on performance or quality!

It looks as if the "Sunflower Oil" technology may be for real and has an
ever-lengthening track record of "Grippy, Green Performance."
Please check out this link: [CLICK HERE] to read MotorTrend's take on this.

COST: After visiting a lot of sites and quite a few local chain stores,
I went to TireRack.com.

The GREEN X, PRIMACY MXM4, (225/55/17 97V) is going to set you back $159 ea.
This is not bad given that the same OEM Bridgestone "Poor"tenzas weigh-in @$199 ea.

But add in your tax (9.75% in CA) and shipping ($56) to that, and 4 tires become $750+/-.
Now, you still need to get them stemmed, balanced and installed on the car.
That's another $18-$25 each.
Want nitrogen, another $10 each. (That's approaching $850.)
And, don't forget all-wheel alignment, my AWD friend.

So, I went directly to the Installer that was listed as "preferred" on TireRack.
The result: All four "Greenies" ~ out-the-door $789.
Not great... but certainly OK.
Lifetime rotations and hazard repair included.

Even mailed-off the rebate card for me so I'll have that extra $70 at Thanksgiving.
NICE!

Hopefully this will help my Subaru, tire-seeking, friends.
I'll keep you posted once I've had some time to put these new
shoes through the gauntlet and log some miles.

Thanks again to "FSuperDuty" for all the help on the other MXMR thread!
You really clarified key points regarding driving conditions and driver style.

Looking forward to hearing about more thoughts and experiences!
CHEERS!

[Angitherias]

Nokian makes eco-friendly tires also and has been doing so for several years.

[stant01]

I got a set of these tires last week, replacing a set of Michelin Pilot Sport tires that had gotten very noisy after 34,000 miles. The car is a 2008 OBXT, MT5. The Pilot Sports would probably have lasted another 5,000 miles, but the noise and the fact that they cost 3 mpg in highway mileage (23.5 mpg at 75 mph on long trips) made me want to make the change. I got the MXM4's from the local Costco, who beat Tire Rack and Discount Tire's prices, and even threw in road hazard warranty for free. Oh, and when I asked about replacing all four tires if one was damaged after half of the tread wore out, the tire guy said they would measure tread depth and if the diameter difference was greater than Subaru allowed, they would replace all four, no problem.

First impressions: the Primacy MXM4's ride very softly and are very quiet - so quiet that engine hum is now audible at highway cruise; the Pilot Sports drowned out the engine even when they were new. Much less need to crank up teh stereo volume at speed now. Dry cornering felt soft and squishy at first, but now after 1400 miles, they feel fine. Hard cornering produces gradual, predictable drift, virtually no squeal. Fuel mileage is back up to 26 mpg at 75mph cruise, just like the OEM Potenzas.

Not nearly as quick transient response when new as the Pilot Sports, but the tradeoff for softer ride, less noise, and better gas mileage seems worth it. Transient response has gotten much better as the tires get scuffed in by normal driving.

The tires semed to be pushed around in crosswinds quite a bit when new, but that too has decreased as they got scuffed in over 1400 highway miles.

No wet or snow test yet, though given the weather forecast here in Raleigh this week, I'm sure I'll get to test that before I get back to Austin.

Bottom line, seems very well suited to the car in my application. The OBXT was always a very good highway cruiser, with enough response to be a bit of fun; now it is even better. For occasional off road forays, the AWD and reasonable tread pattern should get me back out of the places I get into.

[arthuruscg]

For
performance" oriented drivers looking at the review,
the softer sidewalls will reduce upsetting the chassis and maintain traction when encountering uneven pavement or bumps.
A perfect example is the concrete expansion joints found on Virginia exit and entrance ramps.

[stant01]

arthuruscg: Very good observation. The Pilot Sports were very stiff laterally, very sharp transients, BUT bumpy turns sent them airborne. The MXM 4's are much better in that situation. Not only are they softer, they are 4 lbs lighter (each), so noticeably less unsprung weight to start dancing on chatter bumps.

WHen I get home next week I'll get a chance to wring them out on some twisty roads that I know well.

[stant01]

Okay, latest update: After 3,000 miles, these may be the tires best matched to the OBXT. Very soft ride, very quiet (at least compared to Pilot Sports) on most road surfaces. Very good dry grip and response after scuffing in, nearly as good as "high performance" tires; excellent wet grip, no hydroplaning even at 75 in the rain, though the new permeable road surfaces meant there were no standing puddles to really test that.

No ice and snow this trip, so can't comment on that.

These may be the only tires for this car for as long as I own it. 55,000 mile treadwear warranty, and I'll probably just buy four more when these finally wear out.

Ya done good, Michelin!

[Radar]

I just bought MXM4 tires for my '05 XT. They live up to the good comments here. Excellent tires! They make the stock Bridgestones seem pretty poor. I have had several sets of Michelins over the years, and haven't been disappointed yet. By contrast, I'll never buy any Goodyears because of problems with two different sets of them on different vehicles.

[dakboy]

Originally Posted by Radar

By contrast, I'll never buy any Goodyears because of problems with two different sets of them on different vehicles.

I said the same thing for a while, but the TripleTreads have done right by me. Every tire maker has some duds; in my case it was the Wrangler RT/S that had me swearing off Goodyear until I read up on the TripleTreads.

Curious to see how these Michelins do with heavy winter weather, and longevity.

[arthuruscg]

My dad had triple treads on the PT cruise and the Town & Country (caravan) both had problems with cracking side walls and tread surface after 2 years. We checked the date code and the tires where 3 and 4 years old at the time they where replaced (with in appropriate age range). Both sets where still low mileage.
Goodyear required us to have the tires inspected and replaced at a list of certain shops and only offered a small $ towards replacement. The $ didn't even cover 1 tire at the expensive shops. He told the Goodyear customer service person that was unacceptable and he bought 2 sets of Michelin Hydroedge from a different shop instead.

[Sue Bee XT]

It's been just over 7500 miles since mama got a new pair o' shoes. I thought it was time to update. Had the opportunity to put these new Greenies through their paces driving to, from and around Mammoth Mt. as well as in extremely wet conditions. (SoCal got a year's worth of rain in a few weeks.) Great test ground.

The previous reviews are on-point: a scuff-up period does seem completely necessary before you can get a true feel for these treads.

Even after this "get-to-know-ya" period, I found that I still prefer a slightly firmer feel so I run these tires on the higher end of the tire pressure range. (But, I did this with the stock Potenza's, too.)

Now, be aware that nobody is "recommending" beefing-up the pressure, including me. The tire installers in my neck of the woods look at the inside driver's door panel for the psi and that's that. It's a litigious world. But 40psi has a good feel for my driving style, our road and weather conditions amd a lightly laden vehicle.

If Sue Bee XT is purring at 2500 RPM (her sweet spot) I get an average of 22-25 MPG, mixed City & Hwy (averaged nearly 27 MPG going to and from Mammoth) which, for me, is a significant improvement over the 16-19 MPG with the stock tires.

Driving to Mammoth at night in icy conditions was a little daunting, but mostly b/c we don't see this in Los Angeles and I'm not accustomed to it ~ The tires combined well with the AWD and seemed to do well.

Absolutely no problems in snow - surefooted as a snow leopard on the hunt.

Same with rain. And we got plenty recently. L.A. roads can be very slick with the first rains. We get quite a build-up of oil and grime on the roadways that is infrequently "washed away" by precipitation ~ the first rainstorm is usually quite slick.

Two weeks ago, nearly 5 inches of rain in as many hours. However, I did not feel any sliding or hydroplaning on street or freeway. It's worth mentioning that I don't feel the need to drive "spiritedly" in rain.

We'll soon see how they do in warm-hot weather. But for now I am quite happy with the "winter" performance and general handling. I am happy with the mileage as well. Need to wait and see about the wear. But, so far, it's a sweet match to Sue Bee XT and I'm happy with my purchase.