[revvhed]

Originally Posted by Buffetfan

I currently own a Baleno that has seen Goodyear Eagle NCT5, Michelin Energy XM1 and Yokohama C.Drives - the current set. My observations are that Sidewall is stronger in the Michelin compared to the C.Drive. The overall construction quality is better as well.
On the other hand, In terms of wet grip and dry grip, the C.Drive is the better tire. It has a marginally more softer ride as well.

Net net - good roads, wet weather and and high speeds, Yoko is the better tire. Michelin would be the tire to choose though in case the roads have lot of potholes and rough edges.

Hey Buffetfan,

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply.

I have just realised that the C - Drives are not available in the size i'm looking for (185/70 R 13). This means that the choice is now between the XM2 and the A drives !

Whatsay now ??

[blackfire_9]

This was a very valuable post, thanks for sharing your experience. I also wanted to ask if the softer compound in C-Drives would be equally suitable as XM2 in cases where the car is usually fully loaded (as in a car pool)?

Originally Posted by Buffetfan

I currently own a Baleno that has seen Goodyear Eagle NCT5, Michelin Energy XM1 and Yokohama C.Drives - the current set. My observations are that Sidewall is stronger in the Michelin compared to the C.Drive. The overall construction quality is better as well.
On the other hand, In terms of wet grip and dry grip, the C.Drive is the better tire. It has a marginally more softer ride as well.

Net net - good roads, wet weather and and high speeds, Yoko is the better tire. Michelin would be the tire to choose though in case the roads have lot of potholes and rough edges.

[Buffetfan]

Originally Posted by revvhed

Hey Buffetfan,

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply.

I have just realised that the C - Drives are not available in the size i'm looking for (185/70 R 13). This means that the choice is now between the XM2 and the A drives !

Whatsay now ??

A Drives are more economy oriented tires with lower grip and handling compared to C drives. Between this and XM2, my pick would be the XM2, assuming that you are not on a budget as A.drive will be 15% or so cheaper.

See tire positioning for Yoko's - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attach...0-hyd-expo.jpg

Originally Posted by blackfire_9

This was a very valuable post, thanks for sharing your experience. I also wanted to ask if the softer compound in C-Drives would be equally suitable as XM2 in cases where the car is usually fully loaded (as in a car pool)?

I have no experience of car pools on the C.Drive but if the requirement is for tougher rubber, you should go in for Michelins in my view. With loading, the car will be settled on the road anyway.

I love the C.drive for the grip and ride combination. Both my cars are on C.drives now and I am on to my second set of C.drives in the Innova. For sure though, one has to be careful with the sidewalls in this tire.

[akshay4587]

Originally Posted by Buffetfan

A Drives are more economy oriented tires with lower grip and handling compared to C drives. Between this and XM2, my pick would be the XM2, assuming that you are not on a budget as A.drive will be 15% or so cheaper.

See tire positioning for Yoko's - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attach...0-hyd-expo.jpg


I have no experience of car pools on the C.Drive but if the requirement is for tougher rubber, you should go in for Michelins in my view. With loading, the car will be settled on the road anyway.

I love the C.drive for the grip and ride combination. Both my cars are on C.drives now and I am on to my second set of C.drives in the Innova. For sure though, one has to be careful with the sidewalls in this tire.

Weak sidewalls is an Achilles heel for Yokohoma.
Across the forum you can read cases of geolanders sidewall bursts.
I was thinking of C drives as my next tyre,but after reading all these reports,i am having second thoughts.

[Buffetfan]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Weak sidewalls is an Achilles heel for Yokohoma.
Across the forum you can read cases of geolanders sidewall bursts.
I was thinking of C drives as my next tyre,but after reading all these reports,i am having second thoughts.

I have not heard of sidewall bursts on the C.Drive at expressway speeds - that includes the net.

But I had a tyre burst too when my wife put the Innova - at crawling speed on the edge of a road parapet. I am unsure though if any tire would have survived that - being put sidewall first on a 1 foot high sharp edge.

Other four tires I had lasted 48k kms w/o cuts in sidewall but one did suffer a sidewall puncture (very minor - 10 psi per month or so) when a friend drove my car on top of a bush with large thorns.

I have changed to another set of C.Drives on the Innova after 48 k - the tires were ready to do maybe 10k more though.

I think the tires more than make up for the soft sidewall by providing legendary grip on wet roads and solid handling. I have not seen another tire come close in wet grip.

[Chris_Xtreme]

Planning to change the stock tyres (JK Tyre Tornado 155/65/R13) in my Wagon R which has done 22K to Michelin XM2 (155/65 R13 73T) by next month.

[deetee]

Price update-Best quotes I got for 165/65 R13
A-drive: 3200
Xm2: 3550
ER-60: 3600

[Fiest@DuraTec]

Originally Posted by Chris_Xtreme

Planning to change the stock tyres (JK Tyre Tornado 155/65/R13) in my Wagon R which has done 22K to Michelin XM2 (155/65 R13 73T) by next month.

Worn out or fed up and changing for a better experience ?

[Chris_Xtreme]

Originally Posted by Fiest@DuraTec

Worn out or fed up and changing for a better experience ?

The old tyres still have some thread left in them. But I could still experience wobbling and it never stopped even after balancing and alignment. Hence decided to change them.
Best Quote for 155/65/R13: Rs.3375 per tyre.

[Fiest@DuraTec]

Originally Posted by Chris_Xtreme

The old tyres still have some thread left in them. But I could still experience wobbling and it never stopped even after balancing and alignment. Hence decided to change them.
Best Quote for 155/65/R13: Rs.3375 per tyre.

Ok, I asked out of curiosity because 22k is too low for a change. Anyway, the price seems to be okay.

Did you also check the RIMS/Alloys for any bends or damage - that might also be a cause for the wobbling. Do check before a change.

[Chris_Xtreme]

Originally Posted by Fiest@DuraTec

Ok, I asked out of curiosity because 22k is too low for a change. Anyway, the price seems to be okay.

Did you also check the RIMS/Alloys for any bends or damage - that might also be a cause for the wobbling. Do check before a change.

Thanks Fiest for the advice.

Since the roads in my locality were not that good, may be that might also be the reaon for it.

Have checked the rims for bends/damage but could not find any. I am visiting the tyre service center tomorrow to have a final check and to try rotating the tyres, before I could finalize.

[nikhil.nayak]

Just joined the XM2 club this afternoon and will be keenly following this thread. Had a bit of concern after reading posts on excessive wear in Indian conditions. Buffetfan's posts are a little reassuring that I did make a decent choice. Mostly city driving but we do have some bad roads on occasion and sidewall damage has been the cause of some recent flats on my old tyres.

Picked up a set of 5 for Rs 6,000 each + Rs 950 for wheel balancing and wheel alignment

[zenren]

Originally Posted by nikhil.nayak

Picked up a set of 5 for Rs 6,000 each + Rs 950 for wheel balancing and wheel alignment

I've heard the side walls in newer Michelins (XM1+ and XM2) are better than earlier models. I hope its true, as I've got a set of both the models now for the Swifts and the XM2 is likely to see pretty bad roads on a more frequent basis.

It would be helpful if you could mention the tyre size/vehicle model while mentioning the price, since the price varies considerably with your location and tyre size (XM2 for 185/70R14 cost me 4850 per tyre in Kerala) and hence doesn't make much sense to others without it.

[nikhil.nayak]

Originally Posted by zenren

It would be helpful if you could mention the tyre size/vehicle model while mentioning the price, since the price varies considerably with your location and tyre size (XM2 for 185/70R14 cost me 4850 per tyre in Kerala) and hence doesn't make much sense to others without it.

Sorry about that. I have a 2010 Innova VX Diesel with mostly in city driving with the occasional highway trip.
The Innova came with Bridgestones fitted but I was never happy with the ride.

Tyres I've picked up are the Michelin XM2 205/65R15.
Retail price varies from Rs 6,500 - Rs 6,800 depending on the dealer.
I got a deal which was pretty good in the end at Rs 6,000 a piece.

[abhi3284]

Today, went to a Tyre shop with the intention of getting Michelin XM2 185/70 R14 for my just delivered Ritz VDI. The other tyre in consideration was the Yoko A-Drive. I was already running on Michelin XM1+ on my Alto, which i traded in exchange for the Ritz. Was happy with them.

Yoko A-Drive Price : 4350 per tyre.
Michelin XM2 Price : 4750 per tyre.
Exchange Price for stock Bridgestone : 2700 per tyre.
Yoko A- Drive Cost of 5 Tyres : 8250/-
Michelin XM2 Cost of 5 Tyres : 10250/-
Alignment, Balancing, Nitrogen Filling and 4 Wonder Valves Complimentary.

Mind said Michelin but Heart said Yokohama.
After a lot of thinking and confusion, finally took the plunge and got the Yoko A-Drives.
The XM2 was slightly fatter than the A-Drive but i found the A-Drive Tyre Tread pattern better.
I already had experienced the Michelin's, so thought of trying something new.
Also, i would have had to shell out 2000 /- more for getting 5 Tyres of XM2.

Hoping that i have taken a wise decision of going for the A-Drives and do not regret Not going for the XM2. Time will tell. :-)