Shopping for Tires

[glock-coma]

If you have the Michelin MXV4 and have sidewall cracking, make sure you contact Michelin they  gave me a 50% credit on three of my tires due to what they called O-Zone cracking.

I had 26,000 miles on them at that time

[Brucelinc]

Sorry to veer off track from the tire discussion but just a couple of quick comments on WOT traction and PP vs. non-PP:

Stock, my MKS would not break the tires loose on dry pavement at all.  With just a tune, starting from an idle, it will break loose while rolling once the tach hits around 1500-2000.  Power braking to 1500-2000 breaks the tires loose easily from a dig.  I also get a solid tire chirp on the 1-2 shift.  I do not have nearly the mods than many others do so I do not consider the wheelspin an issue or an impediment.  On a greasy or damp asphalt surface, it might be a problem, though.

Are we sure the 2-3 shift prior to hitting 60 is a disadvantage in 0-60?  With the 2.77 non-PP gear, my 2-3 shift occurs well past 60 but when it occurs, the car literally leaps forward.  It almost seems to me that the PP might have an advantage of shifting prior to 60 and having the benefit of the strong jump when it hits 3rd.  If everything else is equal, I would put my money on the 3.16 gear and firmer suspension of the PP in any acceleration contest. 

Sorry to hi-jack...back to shopping for tires.

[Joleat]

That's good info, Bruce!

As I mentioned in one of my previous replies, my past experience with tunes has not yielded amazing results like I seem to see for the EcoBoost cars. That's one of the reasons why I called the traction issue into question. It is nice to know that these tunes actually seem to wake these cars up. I've long suspected, and I'm not alone in this thought, that Ford severely detuned the 3.5EB so it wouldn't be selling a 4500lb AWD family sedan that is faster than a 5.0 Mustang. That's great for us and great for the tuners, but I feel for the Mustang guys!

Faster 0-60 times or not, at the end of the day, had the MKS came with a PP option, I would have went for it... even just for placebo effect, lol.

[jcl78]

This is a great thread! A quick update on the GMAX's: We had 2 inches of snow, not much, but it offered me a chance to test the snow traction. In a word: outstanding. The GMAX's had no issue with slipping, after stabbing the throttle she just went. Braking was equally good, with no ABS interference. I took a corner a little faster than I should have, hit a slick spot and the tire moved slightly and then gripped. These are the next best thing to dedicated snow tires so far in their short time I have had with them. The ride is very compliant, but cornering grip (before the snow fell) was outstanding. A corner where everyone's tires howl there was silence and grip for me. I just hope they stand up to the test of time.

A side note, my Primacy's did have sidewall cracking, I was unaware of the credit. Oh well, they are in some recycling center by now

[BiGMaC]

If you have the Michelin MXV4 and have sidewall cracking, make sure you contact Michelin they  gave me a 50% credit on three of my tires due to what they called O-Zone cracking.

I had 26,000 miles on them at that time

Isn't that "ozone" cracking (about the same as weather checking)?

[glock-coma]

Yes, it's the same thing. I'm sure it's just a term they thought of to try and get out of replacing tires under warranty.

[MeanKS]

If you have the Michelin MXV4 and have sidewall cracking, make sure you contact Michelin they  gave me a 50% credit on three of my tires due to what they called O-Zone cracking.

I had 26,000 miles on them at that time

was the credit only for the exact same model of tire?

[glock-coma]

 I asked , It was only for a similar Michelin. They ended up giving me MXM4

[Kolk1]

I think the tune in first makes a huge difference for 2 reasons. But I could be wrong. At low rpm I think it's like 75 more wtq, and stock I don't think we do full boost in 1st or 2nd.

I can just roll on it in 1st and pretty much spin the fronts across and intersection.

[Joleat]

JC,

I'm glad to see you've had a chance to test them in the snow. Where I currently live, having the GMAX eliminates the need for a dedicated snow tire. They are just THAT good. As you said though, we'll have to see if they stand the test of time.

Kolk,

I'm planning to go with Unleashed, but I'm waiting for the release of the X4. I do have a quick question for you in regards to the Livernois tune though. How would you compare the shift firmness of the Livernois tunes vs the stock program? The last car I had tuned was dyno-tuned by a very well-known tuner in the Focus world and the shift firmness was ridiculous. I felt like the transmission was going to drop out of the car every time it shifted from 1-2 and 2-3. The 3-4 shift was ok.

[Kolk1]

It's firm, but in a good way. Stock it felt like the car slowed down between shifts, tuned it stays the same. But at WOT it shifts hard and takes off. But not violent like it going to break or anything. Normal driving passengers won't feel a difference, but you will notice its a lot better.

[Needmoreboost]

JC,

I'm glad to see you've had a chance to test them in the snow. Where I currently live, having the GMAX eliminates the need for a dedicated snow tire. They are just THAT good. As you said though, we'll have to see if they stand the test of time.

Kolk,

I'm planning to go with Unleashed, but I'm waiting for the release of the X4. I do have a quick question for you in regards to the Livernois tune though. How would you compare the shift firmness of the Livernois tunes vs the stock program? The last car I had tuned was dyno-tuned by a very well-known tuner in the Focus world and the shift firmness was ridiculous. I felt like the transmission was going to drop out of the car every time it shifted from 1-2 and 2-3. The 3-4 shift was ok.

Torrie can set the shifts how ever you want it.  FYI

[SHODYOU]

Roommate has the Gmax on his maxima... they are fantastic in winter weather while still sporty in summer. Nice tire

From my research it and the Hankook S1 Noble2 are the best budget-minded all seasons out right now.

[Night Hawk]

  Just picked up a set of Gmax's this week, looking forward to reporting in with results.

[DJE624]

  Just picked up a set of Gmax's this week, looking forward to reporting in with results.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions.