Given
76%
while driving a
Hyundai ix35
(215/70 R16)
on
mostly town
for 5,000
average miles
Feel like reviewing the new set on my family member's car. A vast improvement over Michelin Latitude tour HP tire. Bridgestone really did ameliorate an all terrain tire to such extent I was surprised even as an enthusiast. I do feel a certain obligation to review it.
- Dry and Wet handling: wouldn't say I noticed the difference in dry grip compared to Michelins, same wheelspin off the start, however I do feel like the handling has been so much sharper even on overly high profile. High speed driving was a breeze although it's a little twitchy but it is a combination of high profile and S load rating the latter which had H load rating. Irregardless of that loads up quite nicely and reacts to steering input fairly close to the level of high performance tires. Heat delivery is the same as previous Michelins with slightly more flex of the tread blocks which made me nervous at high speeds but still more input is better than less in my opinion. In the wet they, one-sided, performed better but balance in handling was veered to understeer, not as badly though in that it wasn't vexing or cumbersome. Overall it is with only slight tendencies to understeer but in comparison to Michelins it had a higher limit so it made the chore of driving more satisfying. Shame no rating for snow and ice grip but I rate it as third grade. Wheelspin machine basically but it still handled nicely in turn meaning it will help you if the roads get really cold, snowy and slightly icy but I do not recommend.
- Feedback: for what it's worth it is decent. Definitely communicates, surprised me even that it did. Electric power steering, high profile and dull chassis shouldn't be extracting anything out of it but it did. A super light steering was given slightly more resistance which meant that the steering wheel needed less micro-corrections, much firmer bite. Also reacts to inputs pretty well so quickly even especially when it gets some heat on it. Braking is a bit numb though for some reason but it wasn't unbearable, I already know the car's brake bite points. Only negative is that because the steering is super light it introduces major bump-steer which annoyed me but it is part of feedback; it may be the tire blocks itself but sometimes there is some vagueness present when tires heat up. I wish it communicated better though, it is only above average and I'm used to medium-low profile tires coupled with higher performance so I'll rate it based on that perspective which is a 7/10, strong rating given the category of this tire. It must be fun driving off road with it but this car never sees it. Only on rare occassions.
- Comfort: in this category these type of tires perform more or less the same except this one. This is definitely a stiffer tire and it transfers low frequency bumps from the suspension quite harshly, only way to soften it up is to drive through irregularities and minor cracks quickly. I respect Bridgestone as always for making any type of tire with stiff as all sidewalls. I feel better lateral stability and better changes in yaw when cornering, pretty much say goodbye to body roll. Comparable to on my Audi the former Turanza T001 except this is a sturdier and safer tire. Noise is slightly lower than Latitude tour HP.
- Wear: 8k kilometers in and it's not worn 1 mm. It is probably going to be a hard wearing tire so no disappointment there. It's still in its initial life however even 40k kilometers would be satisfactory.
Overall: definitely an upgrade in almost all fields but comfort although in spite of that it's so much superior. It also appearance wise looks cool and sturdy much better looking that boring Michelin Latitude tour HPs. A tire of this caliber being fairly close to high performance tires is a good step up and I'd recommend it. Mild annoyance I found was that the little rocks it collects in the tread blocks but the rest is fine. A tire providing off road capability and some sportiness.
