Size: 255/60R17 106 V
Country of Origin: Poland
Treadwear: 220
Traction: AA
Temperature: A
Some of you may recall my previous post asking if anyone had any experience with these. Since I got them, I thought I'd post a very brief, initial review.
Ever since I got my Envoy, I've had a set of British-made Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires and a set of Mexican-made Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus tires. The Verde All-Season Plus certainly had a very positive impact on ride quality, but the Verde was a better performer where cornering was concerned, particularly on wet roads. Braking was equally good on both tires, and they were both relatively quiet. The Verde had a stiffer ride than the Verde All-Season.
This time I went with Michelins, and currently have about 1,800 miles on them. The first thing I immediately noticed with the Michelins was braking. The grip is just legendary. On certain road surfaces where ABS used to kick in sometimes, I've noticed it no longer does. Having also driven in wet conditions the past couple of days, I feel much more confident when it comes to emergency stops - particularly in wet, muddy conditions. I've noticed less wheel spin under sudden, aggressive acceleration from standstill and traction control hasn't had to kick in as much. One of the biggest problems here is the very fine, powdery sand that coats the surface of every road and often results in loss of traction. Rain makes it much worse.
They do feel a bit on the soft side in comparison to both Pirellis, especially when it comes to cornering, despite running the same tire pressures (36 PSI). Perhaps that is the only downside for me, although these tires do run quieter and ride comfort is excellent to say the least - even with stiffer springs and Bilsteins on all four corners.
Although too early to comment on longevity, I tend to replace my tires every 2-3 years due to weather conditions, so I don't think I will have these any longer than that. But I do quite like them, particularly where braking and comfort are concerned, so I may very well opt for a second set when the time comes around.