I've always placed a lot of importance on the tires of my cars (the importance I believe they deserve). Until now, I've always been a loyal customer of Michelin and Continental, which for me are the best tire brands on the market. However, after wearing out the Continental Ecocontact 6 tires that came on my Mercedes C220d, I wanted to switch to tires more suited to my spirited driving style on country roads and highways.
Regarding the Continental tires I had before, I can't fault them at all, as they did their job well. They were very comfortable (although a little soft for my taste), they achieved good mileage and offered spectacular fuel efficiency, but they fell short when driving spiritedly on winding roads.
I was clear that my next tires had to be more sporty. I had previously tried (on other cars and sizes) the Michelin Primacy 4 (which gave me very good results and I liked their semi-sporty feel), the Michelin PS5 (excellent, although a little soft) and the Continental SP5 (also excellent), in addition to some other All-Season models, which don't quite convince me. As I said, I was looking for options from these two brands. I had already decided that I would have to choose between the PS5 and the SP7, but then I saw the test in this very publication of the best UHP summer tires, which clearly declared the Pirelli PZ5 as the winner.
I, a loyal customer and consumer of Michelin and Continental, had to try this for myself, especially since the new PZ5 has a beautiful sidewall and would look great on my car. I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand that I've always fitted what I consider to be the best tires. Well, once my new PZ5s were fitted, I couldn't wait to try them and corroborate what many were starting to say about the new Pirelli tires. That same weekend I prepared a short trip to a mountain village. The first impressions were... a complete shock. They were unlike anything I had ever tried before. As the young people say these days... it blew my mind.
The first thing that surprised me is how quickly they reach optimal temperature (I know this from the wheel sensors, which also measure temperature). I was pushing harder and harder in the corners, and it seemed like the tires had no limit; they just kept asking for more and more and more... It was an amazing feeling; they truly are ultra-high-performance tires. To make the tire slip or squeal, you have to do some really crazy things and you need a lot, a lot of horsepower. In corners, it feels like you have Velcro under the wheels. At high speeds on the highway, they're also impressive; they go straight as an arrow (provided the car is properly aligned, of course) and you can practically let go of the steering wheel at very high speeds. Regarding comfort, we must remember that I came from the Ecocontact tires, so they seem a bit noisy to me. And in terms of fuel consumption, well, more of the same; that level of grip is noticeable at the gas pump, but it's something you gladly accept when you try tires with this kind of performance and you enjoy spirited driving. In wet conditions, I haven't tried anything like them either. Simply put, I've never experienced the level of confidence and safety that these tires provide.
I currently have about 15,000 km on them and I'm more than delighted. I hardly notice any wear, so it seems they will have good mileage. I'll keep updating on this, to see how they age and if they are still as good in the wet at the end of their lifespan.
Regarding the Continental tires I had before, I can't fault them at all, as they did their job well. They were very comfortable (although a little soft for my taste), they achieved good mileage and offered spectacular fuel efficiency, but they fell short when driving spiritedly on winding roads.
I was clear that my next tires had to be more sporty. I had previously tried (on other cars and sizes) the Michelin Primacy 4 (which gave me very good results and I liked their semi-sporty feel), the Michelin PS5 (excellent, although a little soft) and the Continental SP5 (also excellent), in addition to some other All-Season models, which don't quite convince me. As I said, I was looking for options from these two brands. I had already decided that I would have to choose between the PS5 and the SP7, but then I saw the test in this very publication of the best UHP summer tires, which clearly declared the Pirelli PZ5 as the winner.
I, a loyal customer and consumer of Michelin and Continental, had to try this for myself, especially since the new PZ5 has a beautiful sidewall and would look great on my car. I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand that I've always fitted what I consider to be the best tires. Well, once my new PZ5s were fitted, I couldn't wait to try them and corroborate what many were starting to say about the new Pirelli tires. That same weekend I prepared a short trip to a mountain village. The first impressions were... a complete shock. They were unlike anything I had ever tried before. As the young people say these days... it blew my mind.
The first thing that surprised me is how quickly they reach optimal temperature (I know this from the wheel sensors, which also measure temperature). I was pushing harder and harder in the corners, and it seemed like the tires had no limit; they just kept asking for more and more and more... It was an amazing feeling; they truly are ultra-high-performance tires. To make the tire slip or squeal, you have to do some really crazy things and you need a lot, a lot of horsepower. In corners, it feels like you have Velcro under the wheels. At high speeds on the highway, they're also impressive; they go straight as an arrow (provided the car is properly aligned, of course) and you can practically let go of the steering wheel at very high speeds. Regarding comfort, we must remember that I came from the Ecocontact tires, so they seem a bit noisy to me. And in terms of fuel consumption, well, more of the same; that level of grip is noticeable at the gas pump, but it's something you gladly accept when you try tires with this kind of performance and you enjoy spirited driving. In wet conditions, I haven't tried anything like them either. Simply put, I've never experienced the level of confidence and safety that these tires provide.
I currently have about 15,000 km on them and I'm more than delighted. I hardly notice any wear, so it seems they will have good mileage. I'll keep updating on this, to see how they age and if they are still as good in the wet at the end of their lifespan.