On the track
We had the opportunity to perform a track test at Mécaglisse, in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, Quebec. Controlled skids, accelerations and stop-and-go maneuvers were among the things we wanted to assess.
During quick takeoffs and sudden stops, the tires behaved normally, that is to say the time and distance to execute those maneuvers were quite reasonable and definitely up to the standards. Coming to a full stop never caused much drama.
At high speed, on snow-covered sections, we noticed that snow was being effectively expelled from the tires. As for controlled skids, the vehicle performed better in the snow than on ice, as was expected. Driving on ice required a lot more effort and focus to maintain the car inside the orange cones. (Once the tests were all completed, we decided to have a little fun and push the car -- and ourselves -- to the limit.)
Conclusion
At the end of these intense months of testing, which included every conceivable road condition, our test-driver and our own journalists said they liked the grip quality of the Michelin X-Ice -- at least on snow-covered roads.
A few doubts were raised about the tire's performance on ice as well as its durability; however, control was never really in jeopardy. We always felt like we could do whatever we wanted with the car.
All-season tires are now back on our Dodge Caliber, admittedly a bit late. Granted, the car saw very little action since grass and asphalt took over snow. The ride is a bit different, but so far, the results are positive.
We're now undertaking Phase 2 -- a second full year with both winter and all-season tires. This will give us a better knowledge of the Michelin's true quality and durability.
photo:Philippe Champoux
We had the opportunity to perform a track test at Mécaglisse, in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, Quebec. Controlled skids, accelerations and stop-and-go maneuvers were among the things we wanted to assess.
During quick takeoffs and sudden stops, the tires behaved normally, that is to say the time and distance to execute those maneuvers were quite reasonable and definitely up to the standards. Coming to a full stop never caused much drama.
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At high speed, on snow-covered sections, we noticed that snow was being effectively expelled from the tires. As for controlled skids, the vehicle performed better in the snow than on ice, as was expected. Driving on ice required a lot more effort and focus to maintain the car inside the orange cones. (Once the tests were all completed, we decided to have a little fun and push the car -- and ourselves -- to the limit.)
Conclusion
At the end of these intense months of testing, which included every conceivable road condition, our test-driver and our own journalists said they liked the grip quality of the Michelin X-Ice -- at least on snow-covered roads.
A few doubts were raised about the tire's performance on ice as well as its durability; however, control was never really in jeopardy. We always felt like we could do whatever we wanted with the car.
All-season tires are now back on our Dodge Caliber, admittedly a bit late. Granted, the car saw very little action since grass and asphalt took over snow. The ride is a bit different, but so far, the results are positive.
We're now undertaking Phase 2 -- a second full year with both winter and all-season tires. This will give us a better knowledge of the Michelin's true quality and durability.
photo:Philippe Champoux