Michelin Pilot Super Sports, couple conerns.
 

Hey, what's up guys!

Recently I punctured one of my tires on the sidewall and in need of a new tire. I thought instead of wasting money on one of these slippery tires, Id invest in 4 new better tires for my car.
There are literally tons of options and sizes and quite frankly kinda overwhelming:bonk:, If you guys could help narrow my search I'd really appreciate!

I am mainly looking for a tire that will stick to the ground and wont let the car lose traction at all, not being able to drift is fine with me. I will only be daily driving and will never track this car...but I drive aggressively and lively daily on the road.....when safe. I only drive in the summer and never in the winter. I want the cars steering to remain the same as well as the cars agile/nimble feel. Price is not an issue.
Also what tire sizes do you guys suggest in my case?
.....I will be keeping my rims stock.

Thanks for your suggestions, much appreciated!

I'm running a 225/45/17 PSS and I'm very pleased with them. They are my summer dailies and are pulling double duty as autocross tires.

EDIT:

So guys I have decided to go with the Michelin pilot super sports. Any experience or knowledge about this type of tire?

I had a couple questions regarding these tires,
Should I go with the sizes 215/45r17 or 225/45r17? Will I lose performance or cars feel if i chose one over the other?
Also how is the tread life on these, how long can i expect to use them? I will only be daily driving them, with no drifting.

I'm thinking of going with this size too bro. Any reason you choice 225 instead of 215? Feel any difference in steering or cornering?

...I only ask because I heard going with this size you will cause the car to lose its agile feel and make fast turning harder.

You can still break traction with those tires. I use PSS in the OE size 215/45r17.

I'm guessing its a lot harder though?

Now I with mods like a simple catback or drop in filter its almost impossible to feel the differences. But were you able to noticed any difference after switching to the Michelin pilot super sports or the feel of driving?

I ran Michelin PSS on my FD for a few of years. They were fine initially, but after ~18 months they lost all grip. Very strange... Replaced them with RE71R which I ran the rears down to the treadwear indicators at a single track day(!). Replaced those with Nitto NT01.

Anyway, for street tires for the S2000 I've gone back to Extreme Performance from Max Perf category for better grip and feel. Currently on Hankook RS3, would probably get RS4s today, or Dunlop ZII, or Yok AD08R. RE71R are great, but will have a shorter life vs. other Extreme Perf.

Based on my experience with MPSS, I recommend against...

On stock 7" wheels, I'd go 215/45-17

Guys, why on earth is the stock primacy hp tires more expensive than the pilot super sports?

Aren't the stock tires suppose to be terrible with no grip?

The stock tires aren't nearly as bad as people say they are online. Are they as good as the really good performance tires, no. Are they better than the tire most cars come with, absolutely. For people that just daily drive the car, they're actually a good tire.

They're really good for fuel economy. I think I lost a couple of mpg once I switched out of them.

Here's my 2¢

I have 17x9 wheels which I had a set of 245/40 Hankook Ventus V12's. The fitment was pretty square with the rim. I now have a set of PSS. These almost look stretched, and wish that they made them in a 255 width. My point is that in the same size, the PSS seems much skinnier than the Hankooks, whether its the same for the smaller widths, I can't say for certain. Pictures or input from the fellas above who have them would be interesting to see.

Keep in mind the other cars these tires come on..*caugh* Prius *caugh*. They are a very efficient tire with a low rolling resistance and as stated, a very good tire for that. They were put on this car for the ability to slide and be efficient driving around. Unfortunately for most of the people who use this forum, specifically, that's not what we are looking for.

Original equipment tires are often a bit more expensive. When it's time to replace them many people simply purchase the same tire that came on the car without considering alternatives. These people pay a premium for their lack of effort.

I just got new tires and decided to chance some cheapies I have never heard of before because they had decent reviews on tire rack. I got the Riken ZR70 Raptors ( I think that is what they are called ). I got them in 225/45/17 because the 215's looked skinny on the stock wheels, and they were only $56 a tire. I paid less than $400 total delivered and installed at my local shop. So far they are night and day better. They don't squeal when pulling out of my office and feel confident in some of the 90 degree turns I take at 45. The 225 width makes them look a little more meaty, and I like the way the look on the stock rims lowered 1".I guess I will see how they last, but I only drive about 12 mi a day.

The 225 tire will be slightly taller which may hurt gearing a little but will have a little more grip cornering. I would just get whichever is the cheaper of the 2

I was gonna buy a PSS before I settled for some brand that's 1/3 of the price. I spent months only hearing good things about the PSS, and I'd love to own them, but my budget won't allow it for now. I say, if you have the money, go for it.

Thanks for the input guys, appreciate it.

Your right, the PSS costs a pretty penny, think it'll come around to about $700-800, all 4 installed. But I don't want to sacrifice quality because of price.

I know the stock primacys have a 35k mile warrenty which you can use to buy a new set of wheels for a lot cheaper. But the tires must be worn out evenly.

....Hmm just checked and all 4 stock tires are up to Lincoln's eyes on the upside down penny test.
Do you guys think this amount of wear will be worn enough for a new set discount from Michelin?

Guys not sure if this is enough wear on my car that warrants getting a new set. Do you think my tires are worn enough to get new ones? If not, how much do I have left? Thanks!
http://i.imgur.com/y9gusps.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dPVJCuE.jpg

You're a LONG way from the treadwear indicators. Looks like you have at least 6/32" tread depth remaining, these tires have a long way to go. They're certainly not going to be warrantied with that much tread depth remaining.

Wow, didn't know it had that much life left, thanks man! Guess there's no point in buying a new set of tires this early with lots of tread left, just for dd.
But when the time does come I'm definitely buying pss!
Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I could slide the back out super easy on 225/45/17 PSS and after I went to Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 in the same size the cars back end is very planted. It takes a huge amount of effort now to break traction.
I could take a u-turn and be all over the road with the PSS and now the car just grips and goes. I'm still unsure how the PSS could be rated so high when they just didn't seem to stick very well for me.

Really? The prices are very low as well, will definitely look into them. Thanks!

But as for pricing, I think the PSS is so highly priced and rated because of its combined advantages, such as the the sticky tires, comfort ride and plus the prolong life of the tread. You could probably easily get gripper tires than the PSS for less, but for dd it's probably a pain in the ass.

It is rated highly because it is michelin, and people just assume they are the best.

That's why I don't get that tire, it wasn't that sticky, it wasn't that comfortable and it definitely didn't last that long.
It's a Summer tire with a thinner sidewall so I didn't expect comfort but that tire did not grip like it's reputation suggests and
I barely got 8k plus maybe up to 3k miles the prior driver put on them. 11k miles and past the wear bars is pathetic.

Guys, just found an awesome deal for a set of pss for $500 shipped!

...Should I pull the trigger, haha I would hate to have passed on a good deal!:bonk:

At the time when I was about to just get another set of PSS a few weeks ago to replace my outgoing set, they were just about an additional $100 extra over the Firehawks after shipping, mounted balanced and installed.
The thing is I bought the Firehawks local with a buy 3 get one free special and risked getting a kind of new tire with not a huge reputation the PSS has and I also saved a little cash too. A big gamble that paid off.
I wasn't crazy about getting into another set of the PSS and risked it and I'm glad did. I have to believe that once the word really gets around about them, they will start bumping the price because they are better in every
way than those PSS. The only thing I can't vouch for is the longevity but with a higher treadwear rating they should last longer I suspect. Knowing what I know now about these Firehawks, I would have paid much more for
them over the PSS. I feel like a Firestone salesman every time I talk about this but I just don't see the PSS in such a great light now that I paid less for a better tire.

$500 is a pretty nutty deal shipped for the PSS though. In 225/45/17 from Tirerack they are $620 to my location. The Firehawks are $450 from them to me though.
As I said knowing what I know now, even if those prices were switched I would still buy the Firehawks. Maybe a buy two get two free would get me back into the PSS since I know I'd burn through them so quick.
Even then I'd still be sliding around with them.

http://dartfordtyre.co.uk/custom/tyrewear.jpg

Ahhh, that's what those are for..learn something new everyday.Thanks bro!:bow:

Please also note, little square tiles glued to the inside of your rims.. DO NOT REMOVE! There will be serious consequences if you do.. wreck your tyres and car...

Just placed the order for pss in size 225/45r17!:thumbup:

Guys after installing the new tires, will I notice any differences in the driving expirience? Like will the car feel like it picks up faster because of the increased grip?

I ask this because many people seriously advocate adding new tires as the first and one of the most important mods for this car.

Are you talking about the sticky weights?

Yep, it's an old joke....

I had 225 PSS for a while. Turn-in will feel slightly less responsive, but grip will be increased. Due to the increased diameter, your speedo will read about 1mph high at 70mph. Not a huge change. Don't expect any difference in acceleration, aside from the increased grip from a stop.

Edit: If you ever take these to the track, make sure you have at least -2.5* front camber. The outside edge of the PSS is made of a softer compound--if you don't have enough camber, you'll wear them bald on the edges.

I have 245w PSS on a 17x8 rim and I could still get the rear end loose quite easily while NA. On my automatic transmission car. PSS are not all that.

You will notice that the car is a lot louder and you'll hear all the rocks getting picked up and thrown in the wheel wells. PSS are a stupid loud tire. I'm kinda over them.

How was the ride quality with the 245/40 tires, im looking into getting 17x8 wheels with that tire size. Did you lose any steering feel, loss in MPG, etc.?

Ride quality is more/less the same. Much more noise. Steering feel is a bit reduced.

If I had to do it again, I'd go 17x9 or 18x9 instead. in my experience, tires have better feel and response if their sidewall is subtly angled towards a stretch. This should keep the feel/response in check.

My car is supercharged, so MPG is lolbbq.

Seriously though, for a great performing daily driven tire, I'd look at an 18x8.5 or 18x9 wheel and get the new PS4S. That is the new hotness - the PSS is an old tire now and tire tech is constantly evolving.

I can vouch for the new Continental Extreme Contact Sport. Hammered down a tight technical tōge in a deluge thunderstorm (flowing water on road) at 8/10ths a couple days ago, and not the slightest slip. Super grip in dry conditions too.

Really tempted to get a set of these for my new Rays 57CR's. Still debating whether to mount my used RE-71R's or not. Only about 4/32" of tread left on those.

Then I guess you've never tried a 200tw directional tire like the Z2SS, RE71R, etc. Those are loud. :mad0259:

hahaha... Yeah I have. Good old star specs - those used to be the go to years ago.

IMO, the MPSS are stupid loud compared to stock.

I'm also middle aged and getting grumpy about being in loud cars. So I get irritated by tire noise.

On the relative scale of possible tire noise in a legal road car tire, yeah they are probably 2/3rd of the way up the scale.