Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2Laurens, South Carolina-When car people talk about summer tires, it's easy to assume they're talking about the highly specialized competition tires used in autocrossing and road racing. It's sometimes hard to remember that before the age of all-season tires, ordinary people would run snow tires in the winter and summer tires the rest of the year.
While most drivers would prefer not to bother with this hassle today, there are some-who either live in temperate climates or who want their car to perform that much better-who will still switch back and forth between winter and summer tires. Many of these are owners of "sport compact" cars and this is exactly the group that Michelin has targeted with its new Pilot Exalto PE2 summer ultra-high-performance tire line
The TargetsThere is no doubt that interest in sport compact cars is widespread and mainstream. And it's not just limited to Asian cars from Subaru, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. The new VW Golf R32 and a host of 1.8-liter turbocharged Audis and VWs, along with the BMW Z3, Z4 and 3 Series, keeps fans of European cars in the thick of the sport compact scene.
These are the exact targets of the new Michelin Exalto PE2, which is available in 19 sizes this year and an additional nine sizes by the middle of next year. The PE2 is designed as Michelin's entry-level summer ultra-high-performance tire, a sort of "little brother" to the popular Pilot Sport PS2. Tire sizes for the PE2 range from 15-in. through several 19-in. sizes so that the new product line can easily cover original equipment and tuner applications.
Tire TechAll of the Michelin Exalto PE2 tires carry a V-, W- or Y-speed rating for top speeds over 150 mph. The high-speed rating comes through the use of Michelin's Band at Zero (BAZ) construction where a thin ribbon of nylon cords is wrapped longitudinally around the tire's two steel belts to limit growth of the tire at high speeds. The asymmetric tread pattern features a 30% volume-to-void ratio on the outer shoulders for maximum dry handling performance with a 38% ratio on the inner shoulder to evacuate water for wet grip. Three wide longitudinal grooves, offset slightly to the inside, produce resistance to hydroplaning at high speeds. The tread pattern is a bit workmanlike in appearance, lacking some of the stylish appeal we have come to expect from European tire companies like Michelin and Pirelli.
In tests at Michelin's proving ground in Laurens, S.C., on Subaru WRX STis and Acura RSXs, the Michelin PE2's tread pattern certainly got the job done on wet and dry surfaces. Because the tire is destined to be used on street-oriented vehicles, special attention was paid to how the tire reacts to camber changes.
The Variable Contact Patch (VCP) of the tire increases the contact patch area while cornering to help maintain maximum dry grip, even as the tire is rolling under due to a vehicle's stock suspension setup. The tread compound of the PE2 uses a silica reinforcement system that enhances wet grip and also helps attain a respectable 240 treadwear rating.
How Much?As befitting a "little brother" entry level tire, the new Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 is priced significantly below the Pilot Sport PS2. Prices of course vary by size and where and how you buy them, but expect to pay anywhere from around $100 per tire for the small sizes, and significantly more for the larger sizes.
Although we didn't have the chance to check noise and ride comfort during our brief introduction to the tire line, the steering response, turn-in and wet-weather performance were all extremely good. With its attractive black sidewall styling, clean lines and good performance, the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 is a good choice for anyone who is serious about summer performance with their sport compact cars.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero Another Weapon Against WinterUshuaia, Argentina-The road over the Garibaldi Pass was definitely slippery. It wasn't completely snow covered as had been promised and expected in this remote location, less than 750 miles from the continent of Antarctica. The weather was too warm for that, hovering around the freezing point. But it was covered with a sheet of glare ice, making long fast uphill corners tricky and downhill curves treacherous.
My Peugeot 307, a small fwd hatchback with plenty of torque, took it in stride, stepping out slightly but predictably on braking into the corners, and straightening out under power on the blast up the next straight. I had come to the literal end of the earth, the world's southernmost city of Ushuaia to test Pirelli's newest high-performance winter tire in the worst conditions imaginable. While the weather wasn't cooperating, the tires were, and their grip in the icy conditions was impressive.
All-season TiresEver since the introduction of the all-season tire in the early 1980s, the winter tire market in the U.S. has been small potatoes. After being sold on the idea that they could buy an all-season tire that would perform equally well in the winter and the summer, most drivers were more than happy to say farewell to the practice of changing their car twice a year into winter and summer wear.