Well, OK, since it's quiet in here. The LEC needed tyres, and I've documented my preference for Michelin many times before. The new pair are Primacy 3, a minor-looking update of the HPs I have on the Volvo. Two 225/55R16 95W - as prescribed in the handbook but not actually matching either pair fitted to the car when we bought it - cost me a tad over £270. I bought online through Blackcircles and had them fitted near Heathrow on the way to work on Friday.
I did have some choices to make, which - since it's quiet - I'll mention here. Instead of the Primacy 3, I could have had for a similar price the 'MO' version of the HP, which has MB factory approval. Much online digging brought me to the view that this might matter on one of AC's snorting monster MBs but was unlikely to make much difference to my airport taxi edition. On the other hand, the 3's lower noise rating and superior wet grip might well be useful, so that's the way I went.
Then - and you knew this would come up, didn't you? - there was the question of where to put them. The LEC is, of course, RWD, which is a new experience for me. The worn-out tyres were the Hankooks on the rear wheels - although these weren't new when we bought the car and have taken 20,000 miles with us to approach 2mm, so it doesn't seem to be a car that's hard on tyres.
But I do want rid of the Nexens that have been on its front wheels. Apart from the suspect quality and the stodgy feel they give the steering, they have a nasty Terry-Tryhard palm-frond tread pattern that doesn't look at all nice if I park with the wheels turned. They have about 5pm of tread on them.
Michelin still recommends new tyres on the rear, and I agree with their logic. But it could take another 20,000 miles to wear out the Nexens on the front. So I reasoned, with some help from the fitters, that 5mm is plenty, on an ESP-equipped car, to keep the back end in line, so the new Michelins went on the front, leaving the back wheels to wear out the Nexens, which I will replace a little early to give me a uniform set.
And I think the car feels better for the change, especially through the steering wheel, although it's a little early to say after 40 miles at very moderate speeds. I do need to pacify the car's run-flat warning system, which seems to have been upset by the change. I've done the reset procedure now, and I hope that'll end the big red 'Check tyres' messages I've been getting.
So, what would the panel have done?
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