Given
93%
while driving a
Ford Focus MK3
(225/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 3,000
spirited miles
I had to change all 4 tires on my Focus 215/50/R17 95W XL after 4 years (since new) and 87126 km/54137mles. The original tires where Michelin Primacy HP and I think they lasted a lot (they still had legal thread on them) but besides endurance they where a very bad tire. At the end of they're life, the grip on dry was very poor and on wet roads....well...... very tail happy.
Out with the old and in with the new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2.
First off, the comfort level it's huge in comparison. A very very comfortable tire that absorbs bumps and potholes very well and a quiet tire... most of the times. The grip is good too in the dry and I didn't had yet a chance to drive on a wet road (I live In S-E of Spain and we don't get to much rain even now in winter) but instead I drove on a damp-ish road and it was ok (more updates on this when it rains). The inputs feel ok, it doesn't loose traction easy and again, a very smooth tire.
The negatives:
-from 50-60 km/h and again around 140km/h there is a noise/humming kind of coming from the tires and I don't know why is it doing that. I had the tires balanced and aligned of course.
- I had to drive on a dirt road for about 400-500m and I guess, because of the design/patern of the tire, the side of the car and the back of course got very very dusty. I bet on a wet day the side of the car will get very very dirty but maybe it's a good thing - water evacuation... will see and I will come back on that.
- maybe because it absorbs bumps very well it feels like a soft tire and I am afraid that they will not last as much as the MIchelins but time will tell.
I am very happy with my choice and I hope they will last me at least 60k km.
I was not happy about the price though but it's not the manufacturers fault. It's an expensive size 215/50/R17. I paid 517€ fited and alignment and everything, but in comparison for 4 Michelin Primacy 4 I would have had to pay 635€. For me that's a good saving, Maybe next time I will downgrade to a 16'' rim because they take 205/55/R16 and that's 410€ for the Michelin and about 370€ for the Goodyear.