QuestionQUESTION: Thank you. I have a Chrysler Pacifica. It came with Michelin Energy™ MXV4® Plus P235/65R17 104H. These tires have a Maximum Load 1984lbs.@51 psi. The tire dealers wants to put new tires on my car with Speed Ratings H
Load Index 104 and Maximum Load 1804lbs.@51. My question is with the 1984 lbs. compared to the 1804 lbs. Seems like I am getting less of a tire.
There are very few tires readily available that compare or exceed the Mich. Energy in my size with a max. load rating of 1984.
ANSWER: Jim,
There is something wrong in what you've told me.
A P235/65R17 has a load index of 103, while a 235/65R17 has a Load Index of 104. Notice the difference of the "P" in front of the tire size. While there is a slightly difference between these 2 types, for practical purposes they are the same and can be used interchangeably.
However, a 1804# load carrying capacity is a Load Index 101 - and that just doesn't make sense for the size. So there has to be something else going on - and I suspect they are trying to sell you a different size. Aside from errors in speedometer, less load carrying capacity also means increased risk of a load related tire failure, which sometimes has tragic consequences.
BTW, the tires are not XXXX load at 51 psi. These are separate statements like this: Max Load XXXX, Max pressure YY. They are not connected. Both of the types of tires I outlined in the first paragraph have a maximum load rating at either 35 psi or 2.5 bar depending on whether the units are expressed in English or ISO units.
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QUESTION: Thanks- you are an expert. Here is what is exactly on my Chrysler Pacifica now. Michelin Energy™ MXV4® Plus P235/65R17 103 H 1929lbs.@44 psi.
Here is what the Michelin tire dealers NTB or Costco and others want to put on my car.
Latitude® Tour HP 235/65R17 104H 1804lbs.@51
Or
Cross Terrain® SUV P235/65R17 103T 1754lbs.@35 *psi
The 1804lbs. and the 1754 lbs is my safety concern. I went to the Michelin web site for the information.
The Energy is not readily available and is very expensive. Should I stick with the Energy?
Thanks again.
ANSWER: Jim,
There is still a problem with the information you've given me.
A 103 Load Index has a load carrying capacity of 875 kg (about 1930 lbs.) and a 104 Load Index has a load carrying capacity of 90 kg (~ 1980#). NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
I looked up the tires you referred to on Michelin's web site - and it appears that not only was the data put in by someone not familiar with tires, but it was never checked for accuracy.
Interestingly, Tire Rack has the correct information on the tires you mentioned.
So, there is no problem with either of these tires. The information published by Michelin is not correct!
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tire
QUESTION: Well I bought the Michelin Energy 104H. Cost over $1000.00 installed. The tires have a dull weathered finish- not shinny and new like. Is that normal?
Also the tire had an unusual amount of lead weights on it. Is this normal? Please review attached picture. Is something wrong with the tire. Some body had marked the tread with yellow chalk.
Thanks again for your expert help.
AnswerJim,
It is not unusual for the waxes in the rubber compounds to migrate to the surface and create a dull appearance. In fact this is a barrier further inhibit normal rubber deterioration.
It looks like they put 70 grams of weight - about 2½ oz. This seems a bit much excessive, but the fact that they used 4 weights kind of means they were sloppy or didn't know what they were doing - I suspect the latter.
Also, it is not unusual for there to be crayon marks on tires for identification purposes. Given the way in which they applied the weights, I am wondering if the retailer isn't sloppy in this area as well.
Overall, I would suggest that if there isn't a vibration present, then they may have ultimately got the balance correct, but it took them several tries. If the amount of weight bothers you, you could go back with your complaint, but they are likely to blame the wheels. Then I might be tempted to go somewhere else to have the tires rebalanced.
