While at the SEMA show last week, I met with Mark Ludlow, who is in charge of Product Marketing for Ultra High Performance & Sport Tires for Michelin of North America. I expressed to him our collective displeasure about difficulties finding sufficient replacement tires for those of you who want to retain the factory rims and tire performance. He was very concerned with our situation and this is what he sent me in return:
Greg,
I enjoyed meeting you at SEMA.
As you pointed out at the Pilot XGTV is no longer manufactured by Michelin. It was replaced by Pilot SX GT. However, Pilot SX GT is now no longer manufactured. In the same way that vehicle manufacturers introduce new products, tire manufacturers also replace and update existing product lines. To fit the Q45, In the size 215/65R15 we currently sell in the USA the Pilot XGT V4 - which is an all season tire. However, I found in our European catalog an H rated 'summer' tire product that is available in the Q45 size you want (O.E. on Peugeot 807 & load rating = 96). As you are probably aware, summer tire products typically offer higher levels of wet and dry traction at the expense or snow traction and rolling resistance. Below is some more information on the Pilot Primacy. It is available for purchase on the internet through mail order gray market outlets in Germany (but not for sale in the USA).
The Michelin Pilot Primacy is a Grand Touring “summer” tire that was developed to meet the needs of sporty luxury coupe and sedan drivers who want comfort and tread life along with performance. Used as original equipment, the Pilot Primacy also focuses on enhancing wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance.
On the outside, the Pilot Primacy molds a silica-based tread compound into an asymmetric tread design that features stable independent outer shoulder tread blocks (to blend dry road handling with wet cornering traction), a continuous center rib (which reduces noise while providing constant road contact to enhance straight line stability), and a high angle grooved inner tread design (to further enhance wet grip and resist hydroplaning). Internally, the Pilot Primacy features twin high tensile steel belts that are supported by Michelin’s Banded At Zero (BAZ) technology (spiral-wrapped reinforcement) to stabilize the tread area to enhance handling and high-speed capability.
Michelin Pilot Primacy tires feature black sidewall styling with subtle black letters reversed out of a circumferential serrated band. They are V- or W-speed rated depending upon their application and available in 65-, 60-, 55-, 50- and 45-series sizes for 15" to 17" wheel diameters.
Hope this helps you a little.
Best Regards,
Mark LudlowProduct MarketingUltra High Performance & Sport TiresMichelin North America
Discussion on 90-96 Q45 OEM tires - Please read.
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Q45tech
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- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
Don't assume they everyone [whether the janitor or the VP down] at Michelin knows much about the OLD Q and the acceptable tires for its application............they have blown past 15" into 17-20".......into the Pilot SportTakes one to know one............."own one and you'll understand"
My secret source [my OLD Michelin Man who designed the Sport XGTV] owns a Q and does the testing for Nissan on HIS Q.
We discussed this tire and found it lacking [a Peugeot? ] but really they don't have much in oem sizes.........in a V rated or above.
Kumho -11 makes a 225/60/15 Primacy V rated copy for $49 if that the kind of tire you want. At that price you can throw them away every 10-15k and be way ahead
My secret source [my OLD Michelin Man who designed the Sport XGTV] owns a Q and does the testing for Nissan on HIS Q.
We discussed this tire and found it lacking [a Peugeot? ] but really they don't have much in oem sizes.........in a V rated or above.
Kumho -11 makes a 225/60/15 Primacy V rated copy for $49 if that the kind of tire you want. At that price you can throw them away every 10-15k and be way ahead
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greg_atlanta
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:37 pm
- Car: 2008 G35 Journey Sedan, silver/black (no sunroof), 1992 Q45 (in a past life)
Q45tech wrote:Kumho -11 makes a 225/60/15 Primacy V rated copy for $49 if that the kind of tire you want. At that price you can throw them away every 10-15k and be way ahead
I guess tirerack doesn't have Kumhos. Any good place to buy them in Atlanta?
I like throwaway tires since my alignment always a little off, hate to ruin a $500 set of tires.
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docsmile71
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2003 4:16 am
Q45tech wrote:Never let me mount a tire for you, just ripped the sidewall/bead on my last 235/60/15 Michelin [only 12k] while swapping out the Summer tires, Now I have to find 2 cheapos [A/S] to last 4-5 months.......before the conversion to 16" in the Spring.
I'm interested in seeing what kind of rims you upgraded to? You seem to be very picky about the aftermarket items you put on your car.
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docsmile71
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