Malaysia gets new Michelin SUV tyre, starts from RM 700

KUALA LUMPUR: A new set of ultra-high-performance tyres for SUV are in town! Well, they are from Michelin and are called the Pilot Sport 4 SUV. Joining the Pilot Sport range, it is Michelin’s first on-road offering dedicated to premium sport utility vehicle. These tyres are known to offer superb durability, rich comfort, and excellent handling and braking performance.

Like the new Pilot Sport range, these too feature an asymmetric pattern, however, here the asymmetry extends to the grooves as well. Thus resulting in more rigid tread blocks and are therefore suited for increased SUV weight.

Since these tyres come with high-density double casing ply, they are better at shrugging off-road shock damage, like the ones that occur when you run over a pothole. Compared to the competing rollers, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV can travel up to 13,000 km more, as per the durability test conducted last year.

These tyres are designed keeping high-levels of performance in mind and therefore get thin silica and functional elastomers that improve wet weather braking and handling. Also, for better steering precision and response, these tyres get an aramid and nylon hybrid belt.

In the wet handling test, conducted by TUV SUD, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyres came first in the - the SUV was able to lap a 1,050 meter track 5.06 seconds quicker than the rest. In the braking test, it triumphed as well, with the SUV stopping 2.7 meters and 4.9 meters shorter than the rest in dry and wet conditions, respectively.

On the aesthetic front, these tyres reflect a deeper black look and a velvet-like sidewall finish. As per the French tyre maker, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyre is designed to minimize road noise and improve ride comfort.

These tyres are offered in 39 sizes (17 to 23 inches in diameter) and are available at all authorized Michelin dealers nationwide and Tyreplus as well. They are priced at RM 700.