Page 46 - Motoring World (January 2020)

Michelin claims

the ENERGY

XM2+ will

last at least

100,000 km...

emergency situations, I think
it’s lovely.
And I haven’t even gotten to
the best part yet. Michelin claims
the ENERGY XM2+ will last at
least 100,000 km (if driven and
inspected regularly) before needing
replacement. That’s phenomenal
for two reasons. For starters, better
grip always tends to be at the cost of
tyre life, but Michelin seems to have
somehow circumvented that. The
second reason concerns Indians.
I hate to admit it, but most people
don’t consider safety to be at the top
of their priority list. I remember the
days when ABS and airbags were
optional and people would gladly opt
out.
I knew a guy who was frustrated
that Mercedes-Benz wouldn’t let him
opt out of airbags. He said it’s too
expensive to replace if it goes off. For
this set of customers, the longer life
is a superb strategy to sneak in a
The Michelin ENERGY XM2+ claims to provide better grip, even at the end of its life. That’s good, no? safer tyre. He/she is happy that tyre
expenditure is down and I’m happy
that I won’t get run over because
and both sets of tyres were old and the competitor. In addition to this, said driver wasn’t paying attention.
worn out. Since panic braking puts there was noticeably more feel and But pessimism aside, I think it’s
the greatest stress on a tyre and its progression in the brake pedal, as great a tyre like this is now on offer.
ability to grip the road beneath it, mechanical grip played a bigger It’s available in 30 sizes for 12- to
that’s what we did. We accelerated role with the ABS being activated 16-inch wheels, with prices starting
up to 100 kph into a braking zone to a lesser degree. Impressive. We at ` 5090 which isn’t bad at all. The
that was being sprayed with water even took the cars for a short spin rubber that connects you to the road
and slammed on the brakes. around a track, but it would need is one of the most crucial upgrades
The car with the Michelins a much longer drive to really draw you can make to a car and the
consistently stopped a car or a car conclusions on that. But as far as Michelin ENERGY XM2+ just raised
and a half’s length sooner than outright grip goes, especially in the benchmark. ■

46 MOTORING WORLD | JANUARY 2020