Michelin Preceda Tyres (small review)

[benm]

Well after washing my car on the weekend and realising that the inside of my back tyres was errr slick i thought it was about time i got rid of my 225/50/16 Faulken ZE502's (done atleast 30,000km) and get some fresh rubber.

Reading over an article in a recent Wheels Magazine I had my eye on the Dunlop FM901's as many people had said they were a great all round tyre. The FM901 ended up only 5th out of 7 tyres but got good reviews, just scored low due to taking an extra 50cm to stop or an extra 0.2sec per/lap during the testing, none of which would matter or be noticable to me.

The salesperson at my local Bob Jane T-Marts (thanks Paul) recommended either the 225/50/16 Yokohama A539 ($197/ea) or the 225/50/16 Michelin Preceda ($235/ea) instead of the 225/50/16 Dunlop FM901 ($279ea). He said the Yoko and Miche would be the best street tyres i'd ever drive on. So after thinking about the scores in the Wheels Magazine article i thought what the heck i'll get a cheaper tyre ($235/ea vs $279/ea) which actually is better performing (smart decision aye!).

Fitting and balance etc took almost 1.5hrs and $1,012 later (Tyres, Nitrogen filled, balance, alignment) I was on my way home. Immediately (3km) I went to my little straight stretch of smooth tarmac (private road of course) and gave em a real test to see how well they gripped and if if if if they would get rid of my axle tramp (oh dear god i hate axle tramp like u wouldnt believe).

First up i dropped the clutch @ 1500rpm and my god it just squatted and took off I was shocked. I was waited for the dreaded shutter from the axle tramp hehe. I pulled up again and dropped the clutch @ 3,000rpm. Alittle wheel spin (about 2m actually) and then it boosted and took off again, damn was I impressed. These things were launching 10x better than my 30,000km cheapo Faulkens. For my final 'phase 1' test i thought i'd launch in a guaranteed way to get axle tramp (with my old tyres)... Take off like u would from a normal set of lights in traffic to about 20km/h and then stomp it and hold on while the rear end shudders from axle tramp. I did this and whammo it just launched hard again, I thought "wtf ima try that again". So I tried it again and booya it launched again (about this time i nearly wet my pants realising that my axle tramp issues seemed to be gone).

Phase 2 will be to try the launches again all @ 12psi (instead of 7psi) and Phase 3 will be Eastern Creek Dragway.

Overall I'd rate these tyres a 9.8/10. They'd be a 10/10 if i had some wet roads to test them on but im sure with Sydney's weather that wet road is problably no more than about 3 days away.

[2rismo]

Nice review mate. Thanks. I'm due for more rubber very soon and these will definitely be an option.

Let us kno how you go in the wet....

Adrian

[benm]

Originally posted by benm

wet roads to test them on but im sure with Sydney's weather that wet road is problably no more than about 3 days away.

Spoke too soon... 12hrs later and its raining, although not enuff to really test the tyres out. In the wet they are quite good actually unless you try to drop the clutch where you can expect wheelspin. Corners and roads that i used to get easy wheelspin (in 1st 2nd and 3rd) i now have to -really- push it to try and get some wheelspin so im very pleased.

With some constant rain (instead of just enuff to have ur wipers on the lowest setting) im sure these tyres would start some magic.

Wet weather i'd rate these tyres about 8/10.

[Turbo Tits]

hi, nice review, did the sales guy say that the yokos were on par with the mich's? as im a bit of a fan of yokos, and wouldnt mind giving them a try.

where do the mich preceda's sit in the michelin range? ive driven on Mich Pilot SX's (i think now replaced by pilot sport?) and the grip is bloody incredible in the dry, and even in the wet! But to look at the tread pattern it doesnt look that aggressive which goes to show that the tread appearance really means stuff all when relating to the tyres performance.

eg check out the fully aggressive pattern of the falken 451's, yet ive been told these still spin up with not too much effort.

[SS8_Gohan]

anyone ever had a go with some Pirellis? Particularly the P7000's??

But yeah, awesome review. FM901 is dropped all the time in tyre threads, but these sounds awesome

cheers.

[benm]

Originally posted by Turbo Tits

hi, nice review, did the sales guy say that the yokos were on par with the mich's? as im a bit of a fan of yokos, and wouldnt mind giving them a try.

I walked in and basically said "I want a -good- set of tyres for my skyline". Straight away he pointed at the Yokohama A539's in a 'clearance catalogue' and i immediately thought "argh just another salesperson trying to sell me what they have not what i want or need".

I then gave him my little spool about reading up on the FM901's in the wheels magazine test done earlier in the year (which i then realised the A539's he was pointing at actually came 4th in the wheels mag test and the FM901's came 5th). He then said that the Michelin Preceda's or the Yoko A539's would be the best set of tyres i'd ever drive on.

After getting the run down on the pricing of the 3 tyres i ended up getting the best tyre for the middle price range ($235 as opposed to $279 or $197).

[dan_the_man]

have driven an s15 silvia with pirelli p7000's

Grips like sh1t to a blanket

[benm]

Done around 600km on these tyres now and they are fantastic. I'd love to take them to 1 of the 3 trackdays coming up over the next 2wks but i dont want to kill them.

These would have to be worth atleast 6-8sec a lap (at Eastern Creek) compared to my 25,000km old Faulken ZE502's which are now sitting at a dump somewhere.

[benm]

Just had my free 5,000km Service (even though i've done 8,000km) at Bob Jane T-Marts (Rotation, Balance, Alignment). These tyres are as good today as they were on the first day I got them. No noticable wear and no squeeling.

[Chris32]

Just had my free 5,000km Service (even though i've done 8,000km) at Bob Jane T-Marts (Rotation, Balance, Alignment). These tyres are as good today as they were on the first day I got them. No noticable wear and no squeeling.

benm -

how stiff are the sidewalls? They sound like a really good tyre

[benm]

I'm not too sure, how would I test this ? Think im due soon for my 10,000km service.

[Chris32]

do they flex around and squirm around coners? Or do you feel alot of bumps with them?

I want a 225/50/16 that has nice stiff sidewalls for good handelling

Whats the grip like now they have a bit of wear on them?

[benm]

They don't squeel around corners but then again I don't 'rip it' around corners. I feel all the bumps

The grip feels same as day 1.

[Chris32]

have you had them on the track? what about 1/4 mile

Whats steering response like, are they really responsive or do you need to constanlty adjust how much you need to turn them?

How much is left on them after 10,000km?

Sorry for all the questions, but I dont know anyone else who has them, and I would like to try a set - just want to be sure thats all!

[benm]

I haven't had them on a circuit (don't want to ruin them so early in their life) but have had them on the local 1/4 Mile Strip (the old track). I got major axle tramp in 1st and 2nd gear (same as what I used to get on the road with my old Faulkens which these Michelin's fixed - on the public roads).

I'll be at the new 1/4 Mile Strip tomorrow arvo and hoping that it was just the old tracks surface that was causing the problems and not my tyres.

I'm not 100% sure on tread depth, i'd have to have a look, honestly to me they look brand new after abit of tyre black has been used

[Chris32]

I haven't had them on a circuit (don't want to ruin them so early in their life) but have had them on the local 1/4 Mile Strip (the old track). I got major axle tramp in 1st and 2nd gear (same as what I used to get on the road with my old Faulkens which these Michelin's fixed - on the public roads).  

 

I'll be at the new 1/4 Mile Strip tomorrow arvo and hoping that it was just the old tracks surface that was causing the problems and not my tyres.  

 

I'm not 100% sure on tread depth, i'd have to have a look, honestly to me they look brand new after abit of tyre black has been used

Cool. I am going to do some asking around tomorrow, and see what prices they are over here. See how it goes

Regards, Chris

[Guest RedLineGTR]

nice review something to keep an eye on

[benm]

Here is my 60ft times from last nite at WSID. These tyres have done 10,000km and I had them set at 38psi.

60ft: 2.168 (~3,000rpm)

60ft: 2.117 (~3,500rpm)

60ft: 2.098 (~4,000rpm)

60ft: 2.111 (~3,000rpm)

Not bad I guess for an average driver

[EnricoPalazzo]

Benm, how long have these tyres been on your car? How much tyre tread is left? Ultimatey are u very conservative in ur driving and have the occasional hard acceleration bursts? Just tyring to work out how long wearing these tyres are.

Cheers

[benm]

The tyres have done 11,200km and have been on my car for exactly 8mths. They have had a 5,000km service and are due for the 10,000km service (obviously).

I am unsure how much tread is left (see the pics below). I don't have the correct tools to measure them accurately.

I drive a Skyline whats this conservative thing your talking about ... I don't rip burnouts but I give them a good run. I live in a housing estate that hasn't heard of straight roads or traffic lights, instead its -very- twisty roads and a lifetime supply of round-abouts