OEM Replacement: Michelin Pilot Super Sport
04-03-13, 06:33 AM
#154
So I had to replace my PSSs last week. I got the full 30k miles out of them; however, that was literally until the inner wall on my front right went out and the rears were both at 1/32. 
I bought the stock size the first time around, but I went 245/275 this time around...and holy crap is there a difference! I wasn't too impressed with the stock size tires (based on the reviews they got), and some of you guys thought I was nuts. Well, I think that's b/c those same guys had the larger tires. Now that I'm in that boat (larger size), and I totally agree with you guys.
The car handles phenomenally now. If I pony up for the sway bar, I'm might begin to think I'm driving a different car!
I bought the stock size the first time around, but I went 245/275 this time around...and holy crap is there a difference! I wasn't too impressed with the stock size tires (based on the reviews they got), and some of you guys thought I was nuts. Well, I think that's b/c those same guys had the larger tires. Now that I'm in that boat (larger size), and I totally agree with you guys.
The car handles phenomenally now. If I pony up for the sway bar, I'm might begin to think I'm driving a different car!
04-03-13, 06:50 AM
#155
^ This is good to know. I am thinking of doing the same sizes as Lou (245/35/19, 285/30/19) on the stock BBS's when my DWS all seasons are done. Reason being they don't handle as well as summer tires and I rarely drive in winter, never in snow. In the wet, rarely. Only thing I'll miss with the Conti DWS is the treadwear.....540. Probably the highest for any tire for the F.
04-03-13, 07:19 AM
#157
If you really wanna see a difference bump to RE-11, AD08 or Nt05's you will loose 100 points in treadwear but the difference in performance is very worth it, too me anyway, the Nitto NT05 is actually cheaper than the PPS too but i only get 10k out of a set.
04-03-13, 09:45 AM
#159
Well it depends on what you want out of a tire. The thread is about the PSS as an OEM replacement, just throwing out some other options with different wear yes, but also different (better) performance. The NT05 runs out of rubber fast because it doesn't have deep initial tread depth new. At 6/32, I think half of the PSS actually brand new, I would expect the PSS to out last the NT05. The RE-11 or AD08 on the other hand for 150-200 bucks more will last as long as PSS and provide a noticeable amount more grip everywhere. I have tried the pss and all the tires I listed and found preference in the 180-200 treadwear tires rather than the 300 treadwear area. What makes sense is relative to how and where you drive your F. I don't put 7000 miles on my car and year, have upped power over most and occasionally find myself at a road course without my track tires so for a more performance oriented F owner, maybe the other options would make sense. Not saying a better deal, just different options that other owners who haven't experimented so much may enjoy.
04-03-13, 01:18 PM
#160
Well it depends on what you want out of a tire. The thread is about the PSS as an OEM replacement, just throwing out some other options with different wear yes, but also different (better) performance. The NT05 runs out of rubber fast because it doesn't have deep initial tread depth new. At 6/32, I think half of the PSS actually brand new, I would expect the PSS to out last the NT05. The RE-11 or AD08 on the other hand for 150-200 bucks more will last as long as PSS and provide a noticeable amount more grip everywhere. I have tried the pss and all the tires I listed and found preference in the 180-200 treadwear tires rather than the 300 treadwear area. What makes sense is relative to how and where you drive your F. I don't put 7000 miles on my car and year, have upped power over most and occasionally find myself at a road course without my track tires so for a more performance oriented F owner, maybe the other options would make sense. Not saying a better deal, just different options that other owners who haven't experimented so much may enjoy.
In your reference to the PSSs, were you running wider tires or stock? And did you run the same size with the other brands? I'm just curious for an apples-to-apples kind of comparison, regardless of tread depth. It's great to have options, so I was just curious if those NT05s are cheap enough that the two different tires would break even over the long haul.
Mine is a DD, and I'm putting about 16k per year on it. So when the reviews came out claiming the PSS is giving better performance than the PS2 PLUS much longer treadwear AND cheaper, it was like
. I'm doing too much driving to replace 180-200 treadwear tires every 9 months, unless those tires are that much cheaper. I bought my first set of PSSs in July 2011, so that's 21 months. I'm not an expert, but that sounds pretty damn solid for our cars.EDIT: so out of curiousity, I looked up those NT05. At 245/275, you save about $190 per set.
Last edited by melbitoast; 04-03-13 at 01:30 PM.
04-03-13, 02:32 PM
#161
I really don't think the NT05 is that good of a tire, its outdated, (I believe it may come as a narrower tire than the competition at the same size), comes with way less tread but the biggest upside is the fact that their sidewall is really strong. AD08/AD07's have really strong sidewalls as well so if you run a lot of camber then a lot of freeway driving will shred these tires quickly.
Strong sidewall tires gives you great turn-in response (especially with a front heavy IS-F), but it doesn't give you more grip.. it'll make you feel like your car is faster but its unproven to decrease laptimes just like a strut bar.
04-03-13, 03:33 PM
#162
You guys may be interested in this Tire Test that Car & Driver ran last summer:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test
Or just jump to the last page for their results.
Lou
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test
Or just jump to the last page for their results.
Lou
04-03-13, 05:49 PM
#163
6/32? Dang!
In your reference to the PSSs, were you running wider tires or stock? And did you run the same size with the other brands? I'm just curious for an apples-to-apples kind of comparison, regardless of tread depth. It's great to have options, so I was just curious if those NT05s are cheap enough that the two different tires would break even over the long haul.
Mine is a DD, and I'm putting about 16k per year on it. So when the reviews came out claiming the PSS is giving better performance than the PS2 PLUS much longer treadwear AND cheaper, it was like. I'm doing too much driving to replace 180-200 treadwear tires every 9 months, unless those tires are that much cheaper. I bought my first set of PSSs in July 2011, so that's 21 months. I'm not an expert, but that sounds pretty damn solid for our cars.
EDIT: so out of curiousity, I looked up those NT05. At 245/275, you save about $190 per set.
In your reference to the PSSs, were you running wider tires or stock? And did you run the same size with the other brands? I'm just curious for an apples-to-apples kind of comparison, regardless of tread depth. It's great to have options, so I was just curious if those NT05s are cheap enough that the two different tires would break even over the long haul.
Mine is a DD, and I'm putting about 16k per year on it. So when the reviews came out claiming the PSS is giving better performance than the PS2 PLUS much longer treadwear AND cheaper, it was like
. I'm doing too much driving to replace 180-200 treadwear tires every 9 months, unless those tires are that much cheaper. I bought my first set of PSSs in July 2011, so that's 21 months. I'm not an expert, but that sounds pretty damn solid for our cars.EDIT: so out of curiousity, I looked up those NT05. At 245/275, you save about $190 per set.
04-03-13, 06:33 PM
#164
I will definitively be sticking with Michelin when I up-size as they are just fantastic tires both on the street and on the track. As soon as I can toast my crappy Goodyear tires on my Prius I'll also be throwing some Michelin's on it too.
