The Stock Goodyear Excellence 185/55R16 tyres of my Honda City had worn out by 70%, and I had shortlisted the following 3 models as their replacement:
- Michelin Energy XM2 Plus
- Goodyear Assurance Triplemax 2
- Continental UltraContact UC6
The tyre shop informed me that they didn't have stock that fit with the wheel size of my car for some of the brands, and I ended up taking Michelin Energy XM2 Plus to be the replacement.
When looking for new tyre, I look for the following 4 criteria: cost, comfort, performance and lifespan.
Cost
This Michelin Energy XM2 Plus costed me RM200 each (including installation), which is within my budget.
There are of course better tyres with higher cost, which are beyond my selection.
Comfort
This Michelin Energy XM2 Plus is apparently softer than the stock Goodyear Excellent. The car is now less stiff when crossing road bumps, and also less road noise produced when running on the road, especially on cemented road.
Performance
Handling and traction is pretty good. Braking is very responsive. I haven't tried braking on water surface yet, as there is still no raining since I changed the tyres.
Lifespan
This tyre is made with full silica thread compound, which is said to have longer lifespan than rubber tyres. It is advertised to be able to last for over 100,000km mileage. Michelin provides a 6 years manufacturer warranty to it.
This means that as long as it is not poked by nail or damaged by accident, I can expect to use it for many years.
All in all, I am pretty satisfied with this Michelin Energy XM2 Plus tyre. It is value for money and performing up to expectation.
