205/65R15 all-season tires
Last July, Michelin offered us the opportunity to test their new Primacy MXV4 all-season tire over an extended period of time. So, we looked for someone who travels a lot, day in and day out, in all sorts of driving and road conditions. He or she should be able to regularly comment on the tire's performance and the vehicle's overall operation.
Our search quickly led us to the perfect candidate. One of our acquaintances criss-crosses the whole province of Quebec each and every week; her job is to register blood donors at various mobile clinics. She's always driving from one city to another, always on a different road, whether it's a highway, a country road, a city street or even a gravel road -- and regardless of what Mother Nature throws at her.
The first few kilometers
The Primacy MXV4 tires were installed in mid-July on a 2007 Dodge Caliber with a mileage of about 32,000 kilometers. The owner knows her vehicle quite well, having dealt with many different situations since the purchase.
As soon as she took off with the new tires, she noticed that the ride was much smoother and therefore more comfortable. On the other hand, she heard a light hissing sound; was it due to the fresh, deeply carved tire tread? Time and tire wear will tell.
Rain and sunshine
After two months of rain and sunshine, our lovely collaborator said she was very thankful for the new Michelin tires. One night, as she was driving on a dark and winding country road during a particularly severe rainstorm, she noticed a huge difference: the Primacy MXV4s expelled water much more effectively than her stock tires, which often suffered from aquaplaning. Needless to say she felt much safer and more confident behind the wheel. She had the impression of having total control of her vehicle. Of course, home can never be too close...
3,000 kilometers later
It wasn't long before the new tires had covered 3,000 kilometers. The verdict at this point is that Michelin's Primacy MXV4 offers a smoother, more compliant ride. According to our tester, the tread seemed softer than that of her stock tires. As a result, she felt she benefited from improved grip. Her vehicle entered and exited corners and highway on-ramps in a more convincing fashion. All in all, she was really smitten by these tires on rain-soaked roads and even more so under heavy rain.
Next step
We're now visiting the dealer in order to check the tires' condition and wear. Since winter is fast approaching and Michelin's MXV4s are actually all-season tires (clearly not designed for the rough Canadian climate), we will have the Caliber fitted with winter tires. We're sure you understand. Our long-term test will resume next spring once the snow has all disappeared. Stay tuned!
photo:Philippe Champoux
Last July, Michelin offered us the opportunity to test their new Primacy MXV4 all-season tire over an extended period of time. So, we looked for someone who travels a lot, day in and day out, in all sorts of driving and road conditions. He or she should be able to regularly comment on the tire's performance and the vehicle's overall operation.
Our search quickly led us to the perfect candidate. One of our acquaintances criss-crosses the whole province of Quebec each and every week; her job is to register blood donors at various mobile clinics. She's always driving from one city to another, always on a different road, whether it's a highway, a country road, a city street or even a gravel road -- and regardless of what Mother Nature throws at her.
 |
The first few kilometers
The Primacy MXV4 tires were installed in mid-July on a 2007 Dodge Caliber with a mileage of about 32,000 kilometers. The owner knows her vehicle quite well, having dealt with many different situations since the purchase.
As soon as she took off with the new tires, she noticed that the ride was much smoother and therefore more comfortable. On the other hand, she heard a light hissing sound; was it due to the fresh, deeply carved tire tread? Time and tire wear will tell.
Rain and sunshine
After two months of rain and sunshine, our lovely collaborator said she was very thankful for the new Michelin tires. One night, as she was driving on a dark and winding country road during a particularly severe rainstorm, she noticed a huge difference: the Primacy MXV4s expelled water much more effectively than her stock tires, which often suffered from aquaplaning. Needless to say she felt much safer and more confident behind the wheel. She had the impression of having total control of her vehicle. Of course, home can never be too close...
 |
3,000 kilometers later
It wasn't long before the new tires had covered 3,000 kilometers. The verdict at this point is that Michelin's Primacy MXV4 offers a smoother, more compliant ride. According to our tester, the tread seemed softer than that of her stock tires. As a result, she felt she benefited from improved grip. Her vehicle entered and exited corners and highway on-ramps in a more convincing fashion. All in all, she was really smitten by these tires on rain-soaked roads and even more so under heavy rain.
Next step
We're now visiting the dealer in order to check the tires' condition and wear. Since winter is fast approaching and Michelin's MXV4s are actually all-season tires (clearly not designed for the rough Canadian climate), we will have the Caliber fitted with winter tires. We're sure you understand. Our long-term test will resume next spring once the snow has all disappeared. Stay tuned!
photo:Philippe Champoux