The Long Runner?

Sir,

Over the past 20 years or so I have had a fantastic performance from Michelin tyres of various types and on numerous cars. The slight lack of adhesion of the older types I tolerated and the increased mileage I welcomed. However, as I have never owned a “runner bean” I have never been able to judge their latest performance as a high-speed vegetable. I did foolishly change from Pirelli CN36s for Michelin XVS covers last summer though, and now realise that they may well be making them specifically for the verdant vegetable. The reason for this is quite simple. The Pirellis (on our last two RS2000s) have averaged, without fail, about 19-20,000 miles per set. The Michelins have struggled for 10-11,000 miles and I regret to say gave poorer roadholding. I even compounded my error and put on a second set after Michelin assured me that it was due to me running at the wrong pressures and that the tracking was slightly out. Regrettably this did not improve matters greatly and I have reverted back to Pirellis which after all were the standard equipment on the RS2000.

I query. therefore, whether or not the high mileage Michelin is a thing of the past? Michelins have stated to me that the XVS is a high performance, rather than a high mileage, tyre. I obtained neither and regret the day when I thought that I would “vegetate”.

GR Howe, Rhossili, Gower