Michelin's Pilot Alpin vs. Arctic Alpin winter tires

[wcwarrell]

Tire Rack advertises the Michelin's Pilot Alpin winter tires at around $100 /tire, but there's also a Michelin Arctic Alpin winter tire that sells for less than $70 / tire. Anybody know the difference between these two winter tires from the same manufacturer? I've heard lots of positive feedback on the Pilot Alpin, but virtually nothing about the Arctin Alpin. Is this just a new tire? Any ideas as to why the price is so much less?

[This message has been edited by wcwarrell (edited 11-27-2000).]

[Pilot_951S]

The Artic Alpin is Q speed rated (99MPH) the Pilot Alpin is H rated (130MPH)

The Artic Alpin was meant to compete with lower priced tires and is not on the same level of dry/wet road performance as the Pilot Alpin .

Also the Pilot Alpin will last 1.5-2X longer than the Artic Alpin.

And Yes I have driven both. The Pilot ALpin is by far superior except in the snow when they are equal. The only place the Artic Alpin has an edge is Ice, and even then it is marginal.

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The shortest distance between two points is in my car.

[85944na]

i have arctic alpin's on my 944 and am happy with them, but i'm in MN and there's usually snow in the winter so no high speed driving.

[wcwarrell]

Thanks for advice! First snow expected in the morning here in Connecticut and I haven't ordered them yet ... wish me luck! I'll be ordering soon though; don't plan on pressing my luck all winter!!

[Pilot_951S]

I don't know about you but I didn't get snow this morning, the weatherman is a liar.

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The shortest distance between two points is in my car.

[wcwarrell]

Actually, is was snowing pretty heavily this morning around Farmington, CT, but the temp was above freezing and it was essentially melting as soon as it hit the roads. So, my morning commute was wet, but not slushy, and no ice (thankfully!). I did get into the slushy stuff a little in the parking lot at work, so I did get a brief glimpse as to how well the 944 tracks in the slippery stuff with the Bridestone RE's, and it wasn't very good! I'll be coughing up the extra dough and going with the Pilot Alpins, thanks to your feedback, in hopes of getting a good mix of wet and dry control for the coming months. Thanks again for the feedback!

[This message has been edited by wcwarrell (edited 11-30-2000).]

[Pilot_951S]

If you need someplace to mount and balance them let me know via email.

I work in Fairfield.

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The shortest distance between two points is in my car.