In December 2016, Michelin Tires Philippines gave me a set of 195 55 R15 Michelin Pilot Sport 3s for my race car, a 2011 Kia Rio EX and my daily car, a Mazda 2 Skyactiv to be used in races organized by the Philippine Autocross Championship Series and the Philippine Hill Climb Association. And also in endurance rallies like the Cannonball Sprint 2017 and the 2017 BOSS Ironman Challenge XII.
In hillclimb races, I used the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on my Kia Rio Race Car. The tires gave my car a competitive advantage against faster cars like a Subaru WRX STi, Toyota MR2 and Honda Civics. On the curves the understeer was completely eliminated, you would thought that you were racing an all wheel drive car and even with its 320 tread wear, it actually has more grip than my brand F tires with 260 tread wear.
In the autocross race, I garnered the best time of the day in my Kia Rio race car in an open autocross / gymkhana session. My closest competitor was a turbocharged Kia Pride and a Subaru WRX STi. The tires were so grippy that even a Toyota Vios Cup Car with brand B tries didn't come close to my Kia Rio race car on Michelin Pilot Sport 3s. All you need is a set of Michelins to win the race.
During the Cannonball Sprint 2017 500kms endurance rally, the Michelin Pilot Sport3 gave my Kia Rio race car an edge at the mountain passes of Ambuklao road. I passed by lots of Miata MX5s and sports cars at the mountain passes because of the tires that didn't give me understeer. Everywhere you point the steering wheel, the tires follow precisely giving it a faster time at the curves even in a 1.4 liter engined race car. Even with the low profile sidewall, and a lowered suspension race car, we didn't feel any harsh suspension ride and didn't scrape the car's underbelly even with potholes along the way. The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 actually has an extra height compared to my brand F tires with the same specs.
In the 2017 BOSS Ironman Challenge XII, I used my Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on my daily driver, my Mazda 2 Skyactiv. Compared to the stock brand D tires that were my factory tires on my Mazda, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 gave my car a 20% increase in top speed. The brand D I used in Ironman last year can only do 20% less than the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 can give. Plus the tires gave me a great advantage in braking, the Michelin stops faster compared to my brand F and brand D tires. It gave me more confidence on the highways. The Michelin even has more grip on muddy surfaces. My drive on some rough surfaces at Aurora province was taken lightly because of the Michelin tires. And once again, because of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3's grip, understeer on my stock suspension car is very minimal.
Because of my first hand experience in using the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, I wouldn't want anymore tires other than Michelins. This company has come a long way ahead in developing tires for motorsports and daily driving. Safety and performance always comes first in Michelin tires. Indeed, on Michelins you go A Better Way Forward.
Photos c/o Enzo Bautista, yours truly, Cannonball Club Philppines and Motorcycle Philippines.
In the autocross race, I garnered the best time of the day in my Kia Rio race car in an open autocross / gymkhana session. My closest competitor was a turbocharged Kia Pride and a Subaru WRX STi. The tires were so grippy that even a Toyota Vios Cup Car with brand B tries didn't come close to my Kia Rio race car on Michelin Pilot Sport 3s. All you need is a set of Michelins to win the race.
During the Cannonball Sprint 2017 500kms endurance rally, the Michelin Pilot Sport3 gave my Kia Rio race car an edge at the mountain passes of Ambuklao road. I passed by lots of Miata MX5s and sports cars at the mountain passes because of the tires that didn't give me understeer. Everywhere you point the steering wheel, the tires follow precisely giving it a faster time at the curves even in a 1.4 liter engined race car. Even with the low profile sidewall, and a lowered suspension race car, we didn't feel any harsh suspension ride and didn't scrape the car's underbelly even with potholes along the way. The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 actually has an extra height compared to my brand F tires with the same specs.
In the 2017 BOSS Ironman Challenge XII, I used my Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on my daily driver, my Mazda 2 Skyactiv. Compared to the stock brand D tires that were my factory tires on my Mazda, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 gave my car a 20% increase in top speed. The brand D I used in Ironman last year can only do 20% less than the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 can give. Plus the tires gave me a great advantage in braking, the Michelin stops faster compared to my brand F and brand D tires. It gave me more confidence on the highways. The Michelin even has more grip on muddy surfaces. My drive on some rough surfaces at Aurora province was taken lightly because of the Michelin tires. And once again, because of the Michelin Pilot Sport 3's grip, understeer on my stock suspension car is very minimal.
Because of my first hand experience in using the Michelin Pilot Sport 3, I wouldn't want anymore tires other than Michelins. This company has come a long way ahead in developing tires for motorsports and daily driving. Safety and performance always comes first in Michelin tires. Indeed, on Michelins you go A Better Way Forward.
Photos c/o Enzo Bautista, yours truly, Cannonball Club Philppines and Motorcycle Philippines.
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