Originally Posted by SubLGT
Originally Posted by edyvw
Originally Posted by SubLGT
Hey Michelin, wake up
Will you ever come out with a successor to the "aged" Xi3?
You have this "advanced rubber compound" in your new studded tire that has a glass transition temperature of -85f ! Sounds perfect for a XIce Xi4.
Question is whether they need to?....
The Xi3 is lagging behind its competitors in ice traction and slush planing resistance, at the very least. In the 2015 "NAF Test" (performed at the professional tire testing facility Test World in Finland) the Xi3 ranked in 2nd place overall. Fast forward to 2018, and it ranked only 7th place overall.
The 2018 NAF summary comments from NAF for the Xi3 (translated from Norwegian by Google):
Quote
Very poor results on snow and ice.
Especially the side grip is poor, it steers inexperienced and is understaffed.
The impression changes sharply on asphalt, and especially in the wet, where the tire - both objectively and subjectively - is second best.
Quiet and stable under these conditions.
Here are the 2018 NAF comments about the WS80:
Quote
Best result of everyone in the important moment braking on dry asphalt.
Also very good driving feel on the dry road.
Among the better stud-free tires during braking on snow and ice. Quiet and stable behavior with predictable understeer.
Decent on noise.
Here are the 2018 NAF comments about the Nokian R3
Quote
Close behind the very best on snow and ice. Stable and good steering feeling.
Among the best in wet conditions, but below average for the studless on dry surfaces.
The driving feeling is safe and predictable regardless of the surface.
Pleasant low noise level.
https://www.naf.no/forbrukertester/dekktester/vinterdekktest-2018/
http://www.testworld.fi
Sure, but I am talking from buyers perspective. Also, I know Michelin will have very similar performance next winter, not so sure about Nokian based on these R2's I have.
Slushing is an issue for Xi3, due to packed design. But we are talking here about lower 48 states. How much time one spends constantly driving on snow, ice and in slush? That is the issue, the compromise between dry, wet roads that drivers drive on most of the time, and occasional snow storms. Even I who spends a lot of time on the slopes, like good balanced tire that has good behavior in all conditions. I went yesterday over Loveland Pass at 11,500ft during snow storm with my Xi2 on Toyota and cannot say they are any less confident in it than R2, WS70, LM60, DM-V2 I used over that same pass on different vehicles.
What is clear is that wearing of Xi2 (which I was very skeptical about as Overkill knows) is not noticeable after some 5000 miles this winter and that they behave like good A/S tire in dry and wet, which cannot be said for R2, and something that WS70 and DM-V2 struggled with.
In the end, WS90 is introduced even per Bridgestone testimony to increase life, but question is whether there will be drop in performance.