Michelin Pilot Alpin

[The Exile]

I\'m thinking about these for my winter tires (Pilot Alpin PA2) ... a friend of mine swears by them.

Obviously I\'d like a second (and third, and fourth, etc ...) opinion. Anyone here have a set, or otherwise have any experience with them? Good, bad, whatever??? Pls share!

Thanx!!! :D

[SABIO]

no experience with them....except asking for a price.... too much $$$$$$$$$ high end tires like that are not needed...

hey even I bought cheaper ones......

[majic]

i hear they are very good winter tires but 2 things.. they are quite soft (quick wear) and they are michelins thus they are overpriced.. you can get similar and cheaper tires ;) just my $0.02

[ahhh]

think i\'m gonna get the X-ICE by Michelin. They are great. My bro has em on his car, and last winter they held real well.

PA2\'s ( Pilot Alpin 2\'s ) are nice, but i dont think i\'ll need an H or V rated snow tire, as i dont drive the same way in winter as i would in the summer.

the 16\'s you should be able to get in the 150-160 range installed. still a tad pricey, but i like em. Unless i find a kicka$$ deal on another decent tire, i think i\'ll stick with these.

[wongpres]

I run the Pilot Alpin PA2 in the winter (P205/55R16 size).

Like most tire manufacturers, Michelin offers two basic types of winter tire - a performance one (good handling & stiffer at the expense of max snow/ice capability), and one for maximum snow/ice capability (at the expense of a softer compound and squirmy handling, Michelin\'s offering in this category is the X-Ice).

Because my car is highway 90% of the time (most of it on the 407), and living in the city (plus I can work from home if need be), a performance winter is more appropriate for my needs. The first step when choosing a winter tire of any brand is to choose the appropriate type of winter tire for one\'s needs.

As for treadwear on the PA2\'s, it\'s very good. I have 10,000km on them and the fronts have no wear at all compared to the rears - basically all 4 tires have no wear. On the other hand, with the RS-A\'s, even in the first 10,000km, I could visibly see a wear difference between the front and rear.

Handling on the PA2 is like the Mazda3 16-inch Toyo all-seasons during the summer. Also the tires don\'t generate any additional noise. However, Michelin\'s are almost always more expensive than its competitors, so that\'s the trade-off.

[Tires23]

+1 for the Michelin PA2, an excellent performance winter tire.
if price matters, Hankook W300 and Dunlop M3 are also excellent alternatives.

[mazdamama]

I had a set of 4 Pilot Alpins on my 240SX and the handling was amazing. No more rear end sliding out on turns (rear wheel drive) and just blasted through snow with excellent grip. I am pricing out a set for my Mazda at Green & Ross for $1000 plus tax mounted on 16\" steel rims but want to see if any better prices around. Get em if you can affford em.

[cyber]

Costco has AP2 for $190 installed + tax. (P205/55/R16)

I was looking at the Bridgestone Blizzaks. Anyone have these tires and are they any good?

[Tires23]

Michelin PA2 205/55/16 $830 installed tax in.

[mazdamama]

Originally posted by Tires23


Michelin PA2 205/55/16 $830 installed tax in.


Does this price include rims and if so, are they Mazda rims? Do you have both the rims and tires in stock?

[FLIPDADY]

Originally posted by mazdamama



Originally posted by Tires23


Michelin PA2 205/55/16 $830 installed tax in.


Does this price include rims and if so, are they Mazda rims? Do you have both the rims and tires in stock?
For that price it\'s got to be aftermarket rims. Mazda steelies cost $160+ each on their own. A few Mazda dealers are able to offer the factory steelies for much less than the original price.

[SourcE]

What makes Mazda steelies worth $160 each?

At 3 times the price I\'d hope they were goldies... :p

[FLIPDADY]

Originally posted by SourcE


What makes Mazda steelies worth $160 each?

At 3 times the price I\'d hope they were goldies... :p
Maybe it\'s the fact that they\'re made in Japan and not here? Also they are proper hub centered and not bored out like the aftermarket universal ones.

[Tires23]

sorry guys.
$830 tires only for Michelin Pilot Alpin 2 in 205/55/16 (tax in and installed).

Plus $50 mail-in rebate (ends Oct 28)

Thanks

[mazdamama]

Originally posted by Tires23


sorry guys.
$830 tires only for Michelin Pilot Alpin 2 in 205/55/16 (tax in and installed).

Plus $50 mail-in rebate (ends Oct 28)

Thanks

So how much for steel rims?

[Tires23]

16\" steelie black brand new $240 tax in
Thanks

[DeLaY_NoMoRe]

How about those RAV4 style silver steelies? How much are they for a set of 16\"?

[awhoy]

I was told by a tire dealer that the RAV4 steelies are much heavier than the black steelies. (Can someone confirm this?) The dealer also mentioned that they look nice in the first year and they will start to rust in second year.

[billyfo]

actually in winter, tires/rims combo should be more heavier than summer one, cause it can generate more traction.

I have RAV4 or Highlander rims, it starts to rust a bit but not too much, so I won\'t worry it\'s defective.

[DeLaY_NoMoRe]

hm......I just don\'t really want to have set of black steelies on my car, it looks like bare feet on a white car......:sarc

[Tires23]

Originally posted by DeLaY_NoMoRe


How about those RAV4 style silver steelies? How much are they for a set of 16\"?

RAV4 silver steelies are on back order right now, they go for $220 set tax in.
Thanks

[cebo0650]

I also run with Michelin Pilot Alpine on 16\" steelies. They are better then the crappy Goodyear RSAs on dry or asphalt wet and grip snow and ice very well.

Yes, they are more expensive but you get what you pay for! In my opinion Michelin is by far the best tire manufacturer out there and I never by anything else. For the summer I will be going with a set of Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2.

http://www.michelinman.com/images/catalog/tires/pilot_pe2_large.jpg

or click here for a nice big pic: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Exalto +PE2&sidewall=Blackwall&

[mwaters]

look into the Sport A/S as well as the exalto, it will be worth the extra $100 for the set.

[cebo0650]

Originally posted by mwaters


look into the Sport A/S as well as the exalto, it will be worth the extra $100 for the set.
Yeah those are very nice as well, but since I have a set of winters there is no point for an All Season set. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S are all season, that\'s what the A/S stands for.

[mwaters]

cebo, my mistake. sounds like the exalto PE2 is the best of both worlds, great handling, quiet and reasonably soft ride.

[thrasher]

Anyone who is running these (PA2) get more noise then the RSAs?

I just put mine on.. There is no vibration in the steering wheel or car period but they sure do make more noise... particularly around 70 km/h. Is there a break in period for new tires? hah

Any suggestions?

[Skarbro]

Holy you just brought back a 2 year old thread.

I had these tires on my Z24. They were simply awesome. And yes, they were consistently noisier than the RS-As. They don't get quieter.

[thrasher]

Does having lower profile tire really make that much more noise?

I know someone with 60R16s (I have 55R16s). The 60R16s are much much quieter!

I don't get vibration so I assume they are seated correctly.

[Fuman]

Does having lower profile tire really make that much more noise?

I know someone with 60R16s (I have 55R16s). The 60R16s are much much quieter!

I don't get vibration so I assume they are seated correctly.

the only thing i can think of is a difference in tire psi.
but i don't notice much noise difference when changing tire psi

[flylice13]

I work at a tire shop and Micheline Pilot Alpin PA2s are one of the best sellers. They are H rated which makes it safer for you to drive on them. 205/55/16 at my shop goes for about $154 each (that's including the michelin discount right now -- $100 for 4 tires)