Michelin vs bridgestone

andygb

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Omg... Pirelli are pretty much widely known to have terrible wet weather grip :O

I can only speak as I find. I have used them in the dry, torrential rain on the continent at around 100 MPH, and in the snow. I have never skidded out of control with them, no aquaplaning, no problem with heavy braking in the wet.
I have just read some reviews, people calling for them to be banned, saying that they are deadly at 70 MPH on motorways. One person said that they had lost control of the rear end of a Clio of all things.
I sometimes read things like this, and wonder if people just invent stories.

A._Badger

andygb wrote: »

I can only speak as I find. I have used them in the dry, torrential rain on the continent at around 100 MPH, and in the snow. I have never skidded out of control with them, no aquaplaning, no problem with heavy braking in the wet.
I have just read some reviews, people calling for them to be banned, saying that they are deadly at 70 MPH on motorways. One person said that they had lost control of the rear end of a Clio of all things.
I sometimes read things like this, and wonder if people just invent stories.

I can sympathise. I often read people write things like 'I use such and such a brand on my FasterGoMoto. It looses adhesion perfectly, just starting to let go at the right point on fast bends, so I can flick the wheel and...'

At which point I think... 'You're doing this on public roads?'

Strider590

A._Badger wrote: »

I can sympathise. I often read people write things like 'I use such and such a brand on my FasterGoMoto. It looses adhesion perfectly, just starting to let go at the right point on fast bends, so I can flick the wheel and...'

At which point I think... 'You're doing this on public roads?'

Perfectly ok, you can never cause any harm as long as you stick to the speed limit!!! Speed kills don't you know?

bigjl

Remember that some people don't even know what the car losing grip feels like, and driving in a straight line at speed ony shows how well they disperse water when driving straight, however I drive on coutry roads a lot, with roundabouts where buses and trucks also drive, which results in some diesel spills.

But as far as lateral grip goes they are far from the best, after driving my Mondeo for 5 months with the Pirellis, I changed the fronts for Toyo Proxes, I could feel that the rear felt loose immediately in the wet, and yes I have read the research done by Michelin about only putting the new tyres on the rear, and I don't agree, neither do the advanced driving instructors at work, I think the research was done with non professional and certainly not advanced drivers in mind.

When I changed the rear tyres for Toyos the handling was hugely improved at the rear, and cornering was more prgressive and surefooted.

I fully accept that not all drivers have the same skill levels, but I think my viewpoint is relevant as I have previously raced cars and I am also an Advanced Driver. And drive above the speed limits and down the wrong side of the road on a daily basis.

Strider590

^^ I suspect putting new tyre's on the rear is to make the car so that it understeers like a b1tch!.

In a FWD car, when the back end steps out you have to go against your natural instinct and try to get more power to those front wheels in order to "pull" the rear back into line.
This might to the onlooker seem as though your driving like a loon, but it's what you MUST do.

So with that in mind, understeer is probably considered safer for most drivers, because most drivers naturally slam on the brakes if the back end steps out..... This can be lethal in a FWD car!!

Not only this, but people also "back off" or even "brake" mid corner, which can actually cause the back end to overtake the front!

A tyre manufacturer really doesn't want to be held responsible for a car accident, but at the same time they can't account for the natural reactions of unskilled drivers.

GRM

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

The best tyres I ever had were Bridgestone S02's, I tried the S03's when they went out of production but they weren't as good.

Wow, that's going back a bit I ran S02s on my fully expensed company car about 10 years ago; £640 for a full set. Gripped liked nothing else but lasted 15,000 miles tops - which was two months usage for me back then....

Now I'm paying for them, it's Michelin Primacy every time. High initial price but last for ever.

vikingaero

I would agree that most cars I have driven supplied with Pirellis have been awful in the wet. Mrs V's Corsa came with Pirellis and I ditched all 4 tyres after 6,000 miles.

andygb

bigjl wrote: »

I am also an Advanced Driver. And drive above the speed limits and down the wrong side of the road on a daily basis.

As an "advanced driver" do you think this sort of behaviour is a good advert for the Institute of Advanced Motorists?

Strider590

andygb wrote: »

As an "advanced driver" do you think this sort of behaviour is a good advert for the Institute of Advanced Motorists?

The IAM teach techniques which are sometimes in contradiction to what we are taught for our test.

For example..... Using the whole road when safe to do so, in order to gain superior vision around the next left hand bend (very useful on country lanes).
They also emphasise "proper and appropriate use of speed" and the ability of the driver to judge how to drive on what road and in what conditions.

IAM is also about defensive driving, it's about driving in such a way that gives you the maximum time to take evasive action to avoid an accident, should the situation arise.

skiddlydiddly

GRM wrote: »

Wow, that's going back a bit I ran S02s on my fully expensed company car about 10 years ago; £640 for a full set. Gripped liked nothing else but lasted 15,000 miles tops - which was two months usage for me back then....

Now I'm paying for them, it's Michelin Primacy every time. High initial price but last for ever.

Yeah I think maybe 8 years or so when I bought them.I do such low mileage I generally wear the shoulders off before the tyre wears out so traction and predictability is more important to me than longevity.Your 2 months mileage is about 5 or so years for me in my own cars.