Introduction

It has been little over three months since I began using the JK UX 1 tyres on my Honda Jazz. Initially, I had my doubts about the efficacy of these tyres. Will they make the same road noise as the Michelin XM1s? Will it affect overall fuel efficiency? Was this a good call? Well, I have some answers, and most of them are positive ones.

Does it really work?

The cabin of the Jazz has suddenly become a friendly place to be for long hauls. There’s no need to increase the music volume, nor there is any chatter at the back on how I bought the wrong car (because of immense road noise). The JK UX 1 tyres have drastically reduced the road noise. It has also improved the overall NVH of the car.

Matters don’t end there though. The overall ride quality of the Jazz has improved by leaps and bounds. The credit, for this, goes to the extra softer sidewall of the tyres. It manages to take all the beatings an Indian road can offer with ease and with no drama. Be it off-roads, or no roads at all. The UX 1 manages to get through without making the passengers uncomfortable. But when it comes to potholes with sharp edges, the tyres don’t really handle that well.

The grip levels are outstanding, credit also goes to the wider 195/60 profile. There have been many instances where the Jazz was put through rigorous route, and each time the UX1 comes out with flying colours. Also, the steering feels much heavier now. Unfortunately, the car doesn’t roll off the start with eagerness anymore, and this has to do with the wider profile of the tyres. Of course, all these outcomes were measured while driving on dry roads. We’ll talk about the monsoon driving conditions in the next report.

Wear and tear

A quick central tread depth check showed that the front tyres have lost 1.23mm and now stand at 6.77mm. The side tread has also lost the same amount rubber as it measures 6.88mm. The front tyres will always eat up more rubber as there’s more weight in the front due to the presence of engine and also, it also does the job of steering the vehicle. The rear central tread figure stands at 7.63mm whereas the side tread measures 7.20mm.

Of the four tyres, the front two had bits of rubber chipped off from the central block as well as from the deep tread. Luckily, there were zero punctures, which is impressive given that I have driven the Jazz through three different states and in varied road conditions.

The fuel economy has gone down to 19kmpl from 21kmpl and to be honest, I’m okay with that. The benefits from the UX 1 is far more than the drawbacks.

Statistics

Kms driven: 7541kms

Fuel economy: 19kmpl

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi