Michelin Pilot XGT Z4s are great tires!
Written: Jul 13 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Durable, handle great on all kinds of road conditions.
Cons: Can't think of any
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| vickie's Full Review: Michelin XGT Z4 Passenger/Performance Tire |
This is a reposting of a review I did earlier today--I accidently posted in under an incorrect Michelin model number. Sorry! Last fall, I bought new Pilot XGT V4 tires for My Audi A4 Quattro (2.8L). Although I've had these tires for less than a year, I'm a huge fan of the way that they handle during all kinds of driving conditions. Michelin describes the Pilot XGT Z4 tires as "The ultimate weather-tuned ultra-high performance tire" and it's not a lot of marketing hype. My tires deliver extraordinary dry gripping power. I could feel an improvement in the handling (even at high speed turns) as soon as the tires were mounted. They also feel like they are "hugging the road" in rain, sleet and a couple of inches of slushy snow (we haven't yet had a lot of snow as New England winters go!). These tires are also very quiet.
Michelin says that the Pilot XGT Z4 radial tires resolve the tradeoff between dry-road performance and road hugging grip during poor weather because of their (revolutionary of course!) torque-locking sipe construction. Sipes are the numerous grooves found on many tires. Common straight and zig-zag sipes flex and bite into snow to provide traction. However, during high performance driving on dry pavement, the flexibility of the sipes can make the ride of the tire feel "squirmy" and make the sipes prone to damage. Instead, Michelin's have vertical undulations instead of the normal horizontal ones. In this configuration the sipes interlock during hard cornering, braking and acceleration. My experience is testimony to Michelin's claim that these tires "work in slop-without sacrificing dry performance."
Michelin explains the tires' great handling at high speeds as being due to spiral-wound cable beads which maintain tire shape better than the commonly used parallel-strand "bead bundles" do. Michelin claims that the spiral-wound cable beads are exclusive to Michelin.
The Pilot XGT Z4 radials also have better overall wet traction due to radically-angled, variable-width lateral grooves which accelerate water ejection from the contact patch. These groove angles and the tread block pitch of the tires are what Michelin credits for the dramatically reduced tire noise……and the reduction is noticeable.
Another feature of these tires, for which I am grateful, is two-ply-sidewall casing. This provides extra strength and durability to ward off the ill effects of potholes and those ugly times when you inadvertently get too close to the curb during parking. I hate to admit that I subject such a great car to the vagaries of careless parking….but hey, that's life….and that's my parking!
Michelin touts other features which directly contribute to the excellent high-performance and all-weather performance of these tires. Features like "Dynamic Contact Patch Stress Compensation.", which is supposed to make the tires last longer without compromising performance by reducing grip or deteriorating handling. I can't comment on longevity of these tires, since I have only had them for a few months. I can say "so far….great" and "stay tuned"…..I'll write an update when the tires get some serious mileage on them!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
vickie
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Location: Waltham, MA
Reviews written: 75
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