Lets talk tires...
 

Looking to replace and shop around for 2 new sets of tires

1) summer performance tires
interested in the michelin pilot super sport
-anyone with knowledge with the difference and trade offs between the 17s and 18s?


2) winter tires
suggestions?

things to take into consideration
-mostly NY/NJ driving
-cost not really an issue

thanks in advance

The Continental ExtremeContact series are good tires (DW and DWS) for spring thru fall. I use General Altimax Arctic for winter. All the above I have had great success with.

For the PSS's its going to depend on your wheel choice. Personally I would stick with tire sizes that would fit on 17x9 or 17x8 rims. Most notable difference is going to be extra weight and tire height. If your looking for a semi aggressive tire size, stick with a 17x9 rim so you can go 235 or 245

I am in NJ.

Here is what I run on:

Summer - Dunlop Direzza ZII - 17x8 wheels, 235/40-17
Winter - Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 - stock wheels/size

After two seasons I have no much to complain about.

PSS are the better tire, but sometimes you can catch the DW's on sale for 500$(set of 4) One advantage to the DW's is they are on average 1-2 LBs lighter then the PSS's at the same or comparable size.

so sticking with stock size 17s seem to be better the bet? doesnt seem like i gain anything from going to 18s except for paying more?

am i seeing this right?

so let me rephrase this a lil bit...

you have ur choice of a summer tire set and winter tire set - anything you wanted

what would your set up be?

For me M PSS's are great bang for your buck. Tons of grip, decent ride, and great tread life. I can't chime in on winters, but if you getting new rims, use your stockers for winter duty :)

im trying to decide what to do... i dont want to upgrade the rims to 18s to only find out i wont get much out of it...

You'll be fine with 18 inch wheels, theres plenty of cars here running 18's without a problem with performance or grip. Most don't even notice a change.

No need to get 18's on this car unless you were going to be making bigger power (IE Turbo/Supercharger) They just cost more and weight more unless you shell out big $$$$ for decent light weight 18's

Huge numbers of wheel are in 18's inches only, unless hes a serious tracker i doubt he'll care about the cost/weight.

anyone try these:

Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

?

Continental and General are the same tire company.

No but these should be pretty good A/S tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=165

Just don't rely on them in snow.

Probably the latest Michelin Pilot A/S 3 will beat them.

Rolling of Continental Extreme DW's and very satisfied. Lightweight, quiet, hydroplane resistant. Checkout Tirerack's survey.

I wouldn't touch anything from Continental and their sister brand. Dunlop, Pirelly, Michelin and very few models of Bridgestone are only brands I trust. When you own a sport car, get THE best tires available (both winter and summer).

I've ordered a set of 17" pilot super sports but yet to experience them firsthand. Judging from the feedback on tirerack though, they are quite possibly the best all round street tire. Awesome dry grip coupled with good treadwear, low noise, excellent wet weather driveability, there's no other tire that I can see that comes close. Some tires may edge out a tiny bit more grip in the dry but those would probably make you shit bricks in the wet.

Michelin Pilot Sports A/S (All Season) also an excellent tire, quiet as well.

Michelin Pilot Super Sports >

After ponying up for my first set on my previous car, not sure I'll ever buy another tire.

They are that damn good.

Well said sir. Could not have said it better myself.

I've heard this a few times:

"You can think of Star Specs as track tire trying to be a street tire while Super Sports are street tire trying to be a track tire."

So yeah.. Wet conditions, tire life, noise.. The PSS. That's what I have now and love them. I might try the star specs or re11s for my next set just to feel the difference.

What do 18s have to do w FI?

He probably meant a choice of larger tire diameter, and thus loss of effective torque. If one wants to keep it close to stock, 17" is perfectly fne.

im getting the feeling that the PSS are the way to go if i want to keep the stock 17s in them - they are going for $584 for the set on tirerack which doesnt seem expensive at all to me... i paid close to $400 for 1 tire when i had my G37 so $584 for an entire set is pretty damn cheap if you ask me... but obviously they were low pros and 19s but ANYWAY...

what about the pilot sport 3s? anyone try those out yet?

has anyone dropped these bad boys in their car?

http://i44.tinypic.com/2cifqxl.jpg

So, since no one said much on topic of Winter and Summer tires, and Winter is coming up. I'm thinking to get either studded Altimax Arctic (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....romSurvey=true)

Or studdless Michelin X-Ice Xi3 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....romSurvey=true)

I wonder which one has thicker sidewall?

Ok so 18 has nothing to do with it, as the same tire diameter can be had on 16/17/18/19 etc. with the right tire size, keeping close to stock, 16/18s are also fine :)

u guys fit 18s on the 17 rims?

Nah, as in same overall diameter as stock (~24.7"). Not possible to mount 18" tires on 17" rims lol.

ah i see, had me confused with your post lol :thumbup:

Any reason why? I ran Continental ExtremeContact DWS on my e36 and now this car... no complaints and I drive them in Chicago winters

I think the rim size basically comes down to your preference on how they look. As long as you don't go too radical, it should be fine. As for the summer tires, get the PSS's. If you were on a tighter budget I would recommend the Continental Extremecontact DW, as I am enjoying them now. I don't plan to drive my car in the snow, but I've heard good things about the Bridgestone Blizzaks.

yeah, im almost 100% set on the PSS now

and 2nd that, i dont think im gonna drive this car in the snow either but i heard good things about the blizzaks too, but which model exactly cause when i was looking they had a few different ones?

perhaps @rapidcars can chime in on this. I remember reading a thread the other day in which he mentioned his use of blizzaks.

Check out Toyo T1 sports. Friends have em on theirs and love em. Also can be rotated to any corner.