Xoutpost.com - My Review of the Michelin Latitude Tour HP Tires

READERS DIGEST VERSION: The Michelin Latitude Tour HPs are great all season W-rated tires.

WAR AND PEACE VERSION:
Last August, the stock Michelin Diamarises on my 02 4.6is were nearing the wear bars so it was time to shop for new tires. To my surprise, I found Michelin had just put a new all season W-rated tire on the market. Sure I had a set of dedicated 18" wheels with all-season Pirelli Scorpians, but I was getting tired of swapping tires twice a year. I went with the new Michelin Latitude Tour HPs. Up until now, Boston has only had two snow events of 1" each. Not much to really test the new Michelins.

Today, Boston was hit with a decent storm and put the Latitudes to a real test. I am happy to say it was money well spent. The commute to work was not just snow, but the really nasty and slippery sleet/freezing rain mix. The kind that feels like you are being sandblasted when standing outside. Inside the city, the roads had been plowed and salted with pavement showing through. No drama at all (as expected).

As I drove further out toward the suburbs (about 15 miles outside the city), the precipitation got heavier and the roads were not as plowed. The tires performed well and felt no different than the Pirelli Scorpians on 2 - 3" of hard packed snow and ice or 4 - 6" of virgin snow. Lane changes were very predictable when crossing the ridge of built of snow between lanes. Braking presented no drama and the ABS only kicked in when I intentially used a heavy foot to test the limits of traction. Starts from a standstill also presented no problems with the DSC kicking in only when I floored the accelerator for personal amusement. Left and right cleared corners with a predictable line with no sign of losing traction.

The real challenge cam around 2PM. By then the sleet sounded like thousands of BBs against the roof and windows of the building at work. The parking lots had not been plowed and there was a good 6 - 8" of heavy wet snow on the ground. Anyone with a rear wheel drive vehicle was going nowhere and front wheel drive cars are having a difficult time. I was concerned the wide 315mm rears would be a big snow dam and I would suffer the indignity of co-workers watching me get stuck. To my relief, I drove through it all with no problems. The DSC didn't complain once. Even stopped twice to help friends dig their cars out of spaces. The 2nd time I intentionally put myself into a large drift of virgin snow. Again I was able to drive out with no drama or wheelspin.

The highways into the city were worse than the morning but again, everything was just fine. I was driving at a steady pace near or slightly below the speed limit of 55MPH. Quick taps of the brakes didn't bring on the ABS as the old Diamaris' would have and lane changes over larger patches of slush and packed snow presented no problems or unusual handling.

By now the city had changed over to a slushy rain mix and the roads were a mess of slush and large ponds of water/snow slurry. With the sewers drains clogged, I had to plow through several deep puddles. Not once did the vehicle feel out of control.

For those that are considering new tires, I say look at the Latitudes over the Diamarises. For about the same cost, you get equal dry and wet performance with the added bonus of winter capability. If you are in a heavy snow area, they are not substitutes for true winter tires but for commuters like me, they are perfect. Other things I have noticed is they wear much slower than the Diamaris and are very quiet. One last note of caution, which I have been told is true with all large diameter tires, is check for air leaks in first few days of ownership. Both my rears had small leaks that lead to me losing 1 PSI per day. A water/soap solution sprayed on the bead indicated two small air leaks on both tires. They were remounted and the issue went away.