10 Dec 2007 0837H

re: Tire Rack, Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

Just a quickie note on a fabulous recent user experience I had last week. Two Saturdays ago we experienced here in Chi-City what I consider to be an early snowfall and boy was the city caught off guard: sliding, fishing, the whole nine yards. Most surprising of all was how unhappy my dynamic stability and traction controls were in this weather given my tires at very, very low speeds. Clearly neither the car nor I was going to put up with this: out went the tires. Headed online to Tire Rack, which has fabulous appropriate information when you need it, where you need it, in the context that is right, and enables you to make the decision. The staff was super courteous and were easily available when I had to change my order to reflect my stock 17″ wheels and then again when I decided to cancel my winter tire order and get all-seasons instead so I wouldn’t have to be hassled with changing them twice a year. After a bit of second and third round research, I was able to settle on the Consumer Reports’ almost-top-rated Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, and while they are pricey ($174 ea.), the ride quality and road grip has improved noticeably. It is alleged that they are available at Costco at a significant discount (ed.: that has proven to not be the case in fact, Costco is more expensive for the 17″ wheels), but I was kind of too panicked to research this last week. Whoever at Michelin is engineering the compounds for the tires and the design of the tread and all that? My hat’s off to you. While I was out picking up some groceries yesterday I hardly noticed that the city’s roads had been paved with ice the night before, that is, until I stepped out of the car. They are fantastic tires. Also, the warehouse for TireRack seems to be located in south suburban Hodgkins, so, that was basically one day delivery to a installer of my choice, which they also provide references for, and those folks were super nice too. Thanks, Petersen Automotive of Skokie, IL.

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