This post for the Michelin Premier a/s tires is not sponsored but my trip to their proving grounds in Greenville was.

So, it’s a big deal to get our drivers license, right? It takes hours of studying, a Drivers Ed class, hours of driving, etc. Then we are given a restricted license until we prove that we know enough of what we are doing to be driving after midnight. It’s a whole big thing and we start preparing at 15.

But what they don’t teach us in those classes is just as important as what they do teach.

tire pressure~ where to find it and how to check it

tire~ appropriate thread, tire safety 101, how to change a tire

lights~ how to change them

There are so many things that we should know how to do before we drive for the first time. The fact that there are only 4 little rubber things that keep our 2 ton vehicle connected to the road proves that tire safety is something we should know before we ever get behind the wheel.

I was recently asked by Michelin to come to their Proving Grounds in Greenville, SC to learn about their new Michelin Premier a/s tires. I am really excited to tell you about these tires but first, I want to share a little of what I learned. What stuck with me most was the little demonstration we did on where to put the new tires when you buy two new ones. We all know that it is best to buy full sets of tires, but we also know that life is life and sometimes we can only swing two new tires at a time. So, where do you put the new tires, front or back?

The old rule of thumb was that you put them on the front because *most* vehicles are front wheel drive. It was said that the new tires will give better traction if they’re in the front. However, the opposite is actually true. Michelin didn’t just tell us this, they let us test and prove it.

We went to a wet track {simulated raining} and drive two identical cars around it. They were run-of-the-mill Toyota Camrys, one with the new tires on the front, and the other with the worn tires on the rear {as apparent by the ‘worn rear’ sign on the grey car.}

First, we drove the ‘new rear’ car with a professional in the passengers seat. They had us accelerate around the turns and pay attention to what we felt. Even though the worn tires were on the front, the car was much easier to control because you could feel the car start to skip through the steering wheel. That was the whole point of the exercise; the front wheels are directly connected to both the steering wheel and the road so the steering wheel is our direct line to the road. When your front tires start to slip, you know it because the steering wheel starts to shake.  Automatically, you let off the gas and correct your driving.

Next, we drove the ‘worn rear’ car. I knew before I got in that it was going to be a rough trip, but I was excited. I am all for a challenge that involves driving fast and spinning out! Any chance where driving like an idiot is actually encouraged, I’m all for!!

During this time around, we were told to accelerate through the turns again and before I knew it, I had done TWO FULL 360’s, ending up facing the way I was originally heading, with my arm across the steering wheel letting out a little beep as it pressed the horn.

It.

Was.

Awesome.

I was awesome.

As I sat there trying to stop my head from spinning, my professional asked me what I felt before I spun out and I told her “Nothing.”She said that what I did is exactly what happens when people are sitting dazed, in the middle of an accident and tell the police officer “I don’t know what happened.” It was so fast. There was no warning. And I would have taken out about 5 cars if I had been on the road.

Here is a video with an example of what I did. It’s not me driving but it’s still pretty cool to watch.
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