Introduction

2 years and 51000kms - that's the figure the Michelin XM1s in my Honda Jazz had to deal with. And no! My car isn't a part of the Uber service. This figure is actually possible if you stay almost 70kms away from your work place and daily commuting is involved. While these tyres did the job of giving outstanding fuel efficiency (21kmpl), I was always disappointed with its overall performance. There was too much road noise and also had an uncomfortable ride.

So just when I was in the market to get a new set of tyres, JK Tyres contacted us to check out their UX 1 range. We gladly accepted it to test it out and review it. But before we share the experience, let's talk more about this range.

What does JK claim about them?

The UX 1 tyres have been developed to provide two things – high performance and best in class comfort and handling. The company claims that these tyres have been specifically developed to offer unmatched ride in broken Indian roads, especially pot holed roads. Along with this, a lot of focus has gone into making these tyres as silent as possible on tarmac. The other claimed aspects are superb handling, extra grip and high speed control.

What's new about the tyres?

The UX 1 gets extra softer sidewall. It almost feels like a soft compound tyre, but it isn’t. High strength rubber has also been used to give the extra durability.

Specs: Speed Rating, Tread Depth, Width, Profile

I decided to upsize my Jazz’s tyre profile from 175/65 to 195/60 as I wanted two things – make the Jazz look proportionate and also have a wider profile. I know this is profile will definitely bring the fuel efficiency down, but I’m not worried.

The UX 1 has a load index of 88 which means each tyre can hold up to 560kgs. Each tyre weighs around 8.6kgs. Being a high performance tyre, it gets the V speed symbol. So legally, the tyres can perform as required up to 240kmph.

Before we installed these tyres on the Jazz, we did a quick tread depth check. The result was 8mm, which is the right figure for a newly acquired set of tyres. Over the next few months, we’ll regularly check the tyre tread depth to understand the quality and performance of the UX1s.

What all cars it can fit?

The UX 1s are primarily suited for C and D segment cars. But if there are a few cars in the B and B+ segment that can use these tyres as well. So cars like the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai i20 and the Volkswagen Polo can use the UX1s. These tyres are also available for Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi