GDT
Registered Member
So, I did the Hankook->Michelin swap for my 2015 3.8 AWD Ultimate a few weeks back. Now that I've amassed about 1500 miles on the new rubber, I thought I'd toss my impressions into the mix.
First, Hyundai's service approach and in particular its recall/replacement procedure -- clueless, tone deaf, bureaucratic. If anything can slow the adoption of the Genesis, it would be that this company is not geared to service for $50K automobiles. But that's for another thread....
The old Hankooks were a very smooth riding tire. I had no issues with them other than the really nasty flatspotting that made the first 5 miles of a drive reminiscent of the Flintstones car (with those not-cool square rock wheels).
The Michelins do not ride as smoothly. There is a subtle, but definitely there, gravelly effect compared to the Hankooks. It's not significant, and really only appears at highway speeds. That to me is the only downside to the swap -- a modest degradation of ride smoothness.
The upside is more significant, and surprising. My one disappointment with the Genny (other than Hyundai service) has been its somewhat flabby cornering. The car has a good bit of body lean, seems to have some trouble firming itself up in the curves, and feels more Town Car than Porsche in hard cornering.
Or I should say, used to.
The switch to Michelin rubber subtly changes the personality of the car. It's still not a sports sedan, but the new tires make the car more precise and agile around curves and in cornering. I suppose it has something to do with harder sidewalls or the tread pattern or whatever -- don't know. But this is a more satisfying handling experience with the Michelin rubber.
The Genny EPS is pretty good, as electrically assisted steering goes. But it had an annoying tendency to slightly over-correct as it came out of modestly hard cornering maneuvers -- causing the car to slightly oversteer. I had just racked this up to the nature of EPS, of which I am not a fan. So....that is gone now. Much more predictable, stable behavior both in and coming out of corners. Less wallow, and snapback has been all but eliminated.
Other improvements include a better sense of road surface feedback. I know that with an EPS setup, this is mostly the programming and not actual physics at work, but whatever way it accomplishes it, I feel that the car with Michelin provides better feedback and road feel. In fact, I think the new tires are generally a more ideal fit for the steering setup on the Genny.
I've been driving a good many years. I never really thought a tire could make this kind of difference in the overall feel and demeanor of a car. I lament the loss of that ultra-smooth (after 5 miles) ride of the Hankook, but the car is more fun to drive with Michelin. It's still no Porsche, but definitely no longer a Town Car.....
First, Hyundai's service approach and in particular its recall/replacement procedure -- clueless, tone deaf, bureaucratic. If anything can slow the adoption of the Genesis, it would be that this company is not geared to service for $50K automobiles. But that's for another thread....
The old Hankooks were a very smooth riding tire. I had no issues with them other than the really nasty flatspotting that made the first 5 miles of a drive reminiscent of the Flintstones car (with those not-cool square rock wheels).
The Michelins do not ride as smoothly. There is a subtle, but definitely there, gravelly effect compared to the Hankooks. It's not significant, and really only appears at highway speeds. That to me is the only downside to the swap -- a modest degradation of ride smoothness.
The upside is more significant, and surprising. My one disappointment with the Genny (other than Hyundai service) has been its somewhat flabby cornering. The car has a good bit of body lean, seems to have some trouble firming itself up in the curves, and feels more Town Car than Porsche in hard cornering.
Or I should say, used to.
The switch to Michelin rubber subtly changes the personality of the car. It's still not a sports sedan, but the new tires make the car more precise and agile around curves and in cornering. I suppose it has something to do with harder sidewalls or the tread pattern or whatever -- don't know. But this is a more satisfying handling experience with the Michelin rubber.
The Genny EPS is pretty good, as electrically assisted steering goes. But it had an annoying tendency to slightly over-correct as it came out of modestly hard cornering maneuvers -- causing the car to slightly oversteer. I had just racked this up to the nature of EPS, of which I am not a fan. So....that is gone now. Much more predictable, stable behavior both in and coming out of corners. Less wallow, and snapback has been all but eliminated.
Other improvements include a better sense of road surface feedback. I know that with an EPS setup, this is mostly the programming and not actual physics at work, but whatever way it accomplishes it, I feel that the car with Michelin provides better feedback and road feel. In fact, I think the new tires are generally a more ideal fit for the steering setup on the Genny.
I've been driving a good many years. I never really thought a tire could make this kind of difference in the overall feel and demeanor of a car. I lament the loss of that ultra-smooth (after 5 miles) ride of the Hankook, but the car is more fun to drive with Michelin. It's still no Porsche, but definitely no longer a Town Car.....
