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Michelin Latitude Tour Review: Reliable Performance, but Falls Short of Exceptional

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Michelin Latitude Tour Review

Pros

  • Reliable traction and grip on dry tarmac
  • Good stability on the highway
  • A responsive and direct steering
  • Very good wet traction and braking
  • Outstandingly smooth ride quality
  • Very quiet at highway speeds

Cons

  • Snow and ice traction are below average
  • Treadlife is far from exceptional, especially for the price
  • The treadwear warranty could be longer, especially for the price
  • Very expensive for the performance it provides
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It is not because of the off-road capabilities of these automobiles that crossovers and SUVs have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Rather than that, buyers were drawn in by the spacious interiors and the bold looks on the exterior of the home. Additionally, the majority of people who buy crossovers and SUVs almost never go off road.

Because of this, tire producers were forced to create rubber for crossovers and SUVs that is only intended for usage on paved roads. Currently, crossover and SUV touring tires are one of the most popular types of tires available, and every significant tire manufacturer has at least one rival in this market area.

Naturally, this includes Michelin, which is recognized as a business that manufactures high-quality premium tires that frequently push the boundaries of what is possible. The Latitude Tour, which is manufactured by Michelin and designed specifically for crossovers and SUVs, is currently one of the oldest tires in its category.

Despite this, we have realized at this point that Michelin is capable of producing goods that are decades ahead of their time. Even though they were introduced more than five years ago, many of the tires produced by the French manufacturer are still in the running for best-in-class accolades.

However, other excellent tires, such as the Continental CrossContact LX25, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II, and the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus, present a formidable challenge to the Michelin Latitude Tour.

And maybe even more telling is the fact that the prices of all of these premium competitors are far lower than those of the Latitude Tour. In point of fact, the Latitude Tour is the most expensive tire in its category, especially when compared to other premium tires that have been developed more recently. Is it really necessary to spend the extra money on Michelin’s product?

You couldn’t have come in a more convenient location to find the answer to that query. I’m going to go over everything there is to know about the Michelin Latitude Tour in this article, including how well it performs on dry, wet, and snowy roads, how comfortable it is, and how long its tread lasts.

However, before we draw any conclusions, let’s hear what Michelin has to say about the characteristics of the Latitude Tour.

What are the features of the Michelin Latitude Tour?

Michelin Latitude Tour Review

The Latitude Tour is a crossover and SUV touring tire that, according to Michelin, was created for a quiet ride, great fuel efficiency, long treadlife, and impressive on-road comfort and performance. To tell you the truth, practically the exact same information can be found on the websites of other manufacturers, including those that provide cheaper equivalents.

Michelin continues to sing the praises of the tire’s wet traction, noting that the Latitude Tour comes to a stop 5% more quickly in wet circumstances than its predecessor. Although that isn’t too much, keep in mind that the French company usually always delivers the finest results when working in damp conditions.

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In order for Michelin to accomplish all of these goals, the company relied on its tried-and-true Total Performance technology. The French company asserts that it is concerned with the tire during its whole lifespan. On the company’s website, the statement can be seen that reads, “All of our tires have performance made to LAST, delivering, by design, an exceptional level of long-lasting performance.”

In addition, the Michelin Total Performance technology entails that the engineers work to enhance performance in one area without diminishing it in other areas.

Michelin used a tread composition that was based on silica, just as the majority of other premium tire manufacturers. Rubber is molded into a symmetric tread pattern, and both the tread compound and the design are designed for lifespan and durability. The tread pattern can last for a very long time. This type of construction is known as MaxTouch Construction by Michelin, and it indicates that the tire should continue to operate effectively even after it has reached the end of its useful life.

Increased responsiveness and stability on the highway are benefits that come from the tread pattern itself, which is comprised of stable shoulder blocks and a continuous center rib. In addition to this, the Latitude Tour has four wide circumferential grooves that direct water through several sipes in the outboard shoulders, providing enhanced resistance to hydroplaning. Additionally, the sipes contribute to the formation of additional biting edges, which improves the snow’s ability to grip.

In the meantime, the Michelin Comfort Control Technology built into the tire assures that passengers will have a relaxing and peaceful journey no matter where they are going. To be more specific, the technique employs a design that has been computer-optimized as well as precise manufacture in order to lessen the vibrations that are transmitted to the cabin and to limit road noise.

Some models and sizes of the Latitude Tour also come with the Green X insignia, which indicates green production practices and greater low-rolling resistance. This symbol may be seen on some of the Latitude Tour models.

The interior of the Latitude Tour is designed in a manner that is quite conventional for a crossover or SUV touring tire. It possesses twin steel belts underneath the tread area in addition to a polyester cord casing, both of which work to improve the ride quality and overall stability of the tire.

What are the maintenance indicators?

The tread wear indicators (TWIs) that are standard on all other Michelin tires and on all other crossover and SUV touring tires are also standard on the Latitude Tour. However, some manufactures, such as Continental, began utilizing letters as a means of providing an even more accurate indication of treadwear.

Because they indicate how much tread is still there on the tire, the TWIs are of utmost significance to the vehicle’s owner. If the tire does not have a suitable amount of tread, it will not be able to withstand hydroplaning very effectively, and its general performance in the rain will suffer greatly.

A minimum of 2/32 of an inch of tread depth is required for the Michelin Latitude Tour. When the tread on the tire reaches this point, you should change it out for a brand new one as soon as possible. If you don’t do this, you run the risk of driving on tires that won’t be able to give you the grip and stopping power you need on conditions that are wet.

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The treadwear indicators are incorporated into the tire in the form of thin rubber inserts that are placed into the circumferential grooves. As the tread on the tire wears down, the thin rubber bars will become more noticeable as they protrude through the tread. After the tread has been worn down to a depth of 2/32 of an inch, the bars will be fully flush with the tread.

Even though it is recommended to change the tire once it reaches that point, I would propose doing so early, particularly if you want to keep the same level of snow traction and braking ability.

To our good fortune, the Michelin Latitude Tour will not become worn out too quickly. Michelin backs up the claims that their tires have a strong treadlife by offering a treadwear warranty on all sizes that is good for 65,000 miles.

Having said that, the Latitude Tour is the most costly tire available in its particular category. And for the same money, you can choose tires with an even longer treadlife, such as the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza Plus (which has a treadwear warranty of 80,000 miles) or the Continental CrossContact LX25 (which has a treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles).

How does it behave on a dry tarmac?

Michelin Latitude Tour Review

On dry roads, the overall performance of the Latitude Tour is really strong. It seems as though the tire has adequate responsiveness to allow for proper cornering positioning of your vehicle. In addition, even when traveling at highway speeds, the directional stability is excellent.

The Michelin Latitude Tour is among the best tires in its category in terms of the amount of traction it provides. If you want me to be more honest about it, the cornering grip is pretty nice; nonetheless, for the price, I expected more. The same can be said about the vehicle’s traction and brakes, both of which are adequate but hardly world-class.

There is a good chance that you won’t be able to put these things through their paces on public roads. When it comes to day-to-day driving, the differences between the best tires and the Latitude Tour are practically impossible to notice.

How is it over wet and slippery roads?

When it’s raining outside, one of the best touring tires to have on your vehicle is the Latitude Tour. Both the tire’s resistance to aquaplaning and its grip are of the highest possible quality.

In addition to this, the tire is capable of achieving some of the shortest stopping distances in its category, regardless of how intense the rain may be. In addition, because it comes included with the Total Performance package, the Latitude Tour maintains the same level of reliable traction even after it has been used.

With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?

The Latitude Tour should have exceptional snow traction thanks to the zig-zag sipes that Michelin incorporated into the inner and outer tread blocks of the tire.

On the other hand, the tire is in no way fit for use under those circumstances in the actual world. You will have some success gaining traction on snow, but there are premium competitors out there that perform considerably better. The same is true for the braking distances, which are significantly greater than those of the class leaders.

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Is it suitable for off-road driving?

Because it is a touring tire, the Latitude Tour was primarily developed for use on paved roads. This is the case throughout the most of its life. You can use the tire on hardpacked surfaces, but you shouldn’t expect it to provide very high levels of traction in those situations. In addition, the Latitude Tour does not have a durable case that will keep it from being cut or punctured in any way.

Is it comfortable and refined?

The Latitude Tour is an exceptionally peaceful and comfortable vehicle, not that we should have expected anything less from a product manufactured by Michelin. The ride quality is particularly impressive, as the tire is able to readily smooth out both the tiny and the larger flaws that are present on the road. In addition, there is not much noise from the road, even when driving at highway speeds.

You may find additional information on the Michelin Latitude Tour Review here: AutoServiceWorld’s original video production

 

Should I buy the Michelin Latitude Tour?

Owners of crossovers and SUVs may consider purchasing the Michelin Latitude Tour as their touring tire of choice. In general, it offers the driver exceptional comfort, safe traction on both dry and wet terrain, and a good treadlife.

However, even in comparison to the cost of comparable premium tires, the price of the Latitude Tour is significantly higher than average. And this is where the tire falls short in comparison to the fierce competition that it faces.

When compared to the Michelin Latitude Tour, for instance, the Bridgestone Dueler Alenza Plus and the Continental CrossContact LX25 are superior in a variety of categories and also come with warranties that cover treadwear longer. Additionally, their prices are more affordable.

Because of these factors, the Michelin Latitude Tour is only one that I would recommend if you could find a reasonable price for it. If you choose to purchase things from the most significant rival company instead, you can save more than one hundred dollars on certain sizes.

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