Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 vs Max Performance Summer
 

Hello lovely people of the FT86 community. The time of year is approaching that I'll need to look at getting the stock wheels and winters off my car. I have the wheels picked out (I think) and I am getting the recommendation of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's from my tire guy. I've done as much research as I can but I keep coming up with the same mental block: Does this tire ACTUALLY perform as good as max performance summer tires.

Reviews and articles say it performs equally well but I can't get around the 'A/S' in the name. Originally I was going to get Pilot Super Sports but with the price difference my guy is offering me I can't decide, also I live in British Columbia where we can sometimes have a harsher fall season which has me thinking A/S 3's might be a good "3 season" alternative. Needless to say, I am not sure what to do, and I don't want to have a situation where my car is hampered by the shoes it wears.

So, TD/DR version:
I have winters and I need new performance tires
I was offered a great price on Pilot Sport A/S 3's
Can't decide between them and max performance tires
I don't see myself ever really tracking the car
Spirited drives through twisties are very common though
I don't really want to know that I gave up the stock tires for a marginal increase in performance

PS. Another question

I'm looking at going with 17x8's with 225/45/17s, is this a great size? Or should I look at getting a set of 17x9's with a bigger tire?


Thanks guys, I really appreciate any info you can give!

I think you should be fine with a 225/45/17 on a 17x8 if your staying mostly stock

The Pilot Sport AS3s are truly a '3 season tire'. My wife has them on her vehicle. They are fine summer, fall, and spring but horrible in any type of winter condition including mild snow.

Do you have a set of secondary winters? If so, then just go with the max performance tire and then switch to your winters. If this will be your only tire in British Columbia, I might look elsewhere.

I have a set of Michelin X-Ice 3's on the stock wheels so I'm good when it comes to winter. As far as "staying close to stock" I doubt this car will see more than a header back exhaust and some handling goodies.

I'm just confused. People are saying these A/S 3's perform better than max performance tires, I think one article (that I can't find so I might be making it up) said they performed better than Continental DW's.

I don't want to be disappointed, though I am not too sure if anything can disappoint me more than Primacy HP's.

I think application (vehicle) is also important in this argument as their are lots of variables when comparing tires as the ratings are very subjective with little quantitative data. The Contis are ~$150 cheaper on TireRack. I think either would be a good option. Personally, if it was me and I knew I already had a dedicated winter set, this comparison to me is then Conti DW vs. Michelin PSS. In that case, price really becomes the deciding factor. The PSS will most likely out perform the Conti in dry situations but I am certain the Conti would come out on top in the wet and comfort category. Ultimately, it's up to you.

The A/S 3s are certainly a great tire but if you have dedicated winter tires you could likely get away with Pilot Super Sports instead, and they are worth it. It really just depends if you think you're going to ever get caught out in the occasional snow/ice or if you can plan around that and run a true summer tire.

Super Sports on any amount of ice or snow are a no go.

And just to correct what n8dog was saying: PSS have better traction that Conti DW in almost every situation, not to mention much stiffer sidewall. See the link below for a comparison.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=148

I have the Pilot Sport A/S3 on my Lexus IS250 AWD, no snow yet so I don't know how they perform. So far on dry and wet it's perfect. Running Pilot Super Sports on my BRZ though. Grippy as hell! :)

So, from what everyone is saying it seems as though these A/S 3s aren't such a good idea if I have dedicated winters?Are Super Sports really a better idea if I'm using the tire for three seasons a year because where I'm at in BC fall can fluctuate between 0 degrees and 15 degrees, which is why I'm entertaining the thought of the a/s 3 . I guess I'm wondering; put two equally skilled drivers in an equal car, this case a 86 platform, one with a set of max performance summer tires one with A/S 3's and have them drive down some twisty roads and possibly and autocross track. Would the A/S 3 tires be behind by much?

Sorry if I'm just being stubborn, but the ads, sales reps and articles i find about this tire makes it seem like the lines between max performance summer and all season ultra tire have been erased and this is ultimate tire (I may be exaggerating but not by much) but there is oddly little data shown that puts this tire against this other tire class that it's supposed to compete with.

I've only had a chance to compare them directly on a GTI, but yeah it's a pretty significant difference IMO.

You can't beat a true summer tire.

Bump!

It's time for me to decide on the tires. If anyone has additional information on this topic it'd be super appreciated.

Right now the tires in the running are:

Conti. Extreme Contact DW
Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

I am looking at going with a 225 or 235/45/17 on 720 Form GTF1's in 17x8 but I'm wondering if 17x9 would be a better setup. Again, anything to help me make my mind up would be greatly appreciated.

Just put the Contis on my car and I am not regretting the decision at all! Comfortable, they grip very well and in light rain thus far the traction is superb!

The Michelin PSS will out grip the Conti but the price point is slightly higher and you will give on the wet and comfort. I really don't care about comfort normally but after having Federal SS 595's on it for the past 20k, I needed a break! They were horrid!

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doesn't the tirerack test results "show" that the PSS outperform the Contis in every wet condition? according to those tests the only thing the Contis win in are ride comfort and noise comfort. every other category the PSS wins.
Don't mean to thread jack but i live in socal..im debating between the PSS the AS3 and the Contis, but for 150 dollars the PSS are much better right? that doesn't seem to be a significant amount of money for performance. if it was like a 600+ dollar difference then yes IMO. not bashing anyone here.

Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2
They will be best for street driving.

It's true that because of the temp in Van BC, you won't be running the Michelin PSS at it's best temperature... that's what people have been saying and using AS3s (I am down in Seattle). If you track/autoX though, the PSS will be better for sure. You mentioned u have a dedicated winters already so I recommend getting the Hankook's

I wasn't aware that they tested the Michelin PSS and Conti DW together. If they did, I missed that article and would actually really like to see it. I should correct myself, I'm not one hundred percent on the capabilities of the PSS in the wet other than what I have read on tirerack. They did say that they were very capable in the wet compared to the tires tested against it. (Advan Sports, Bridgestone Pole Position S-04, and Dunlop SportMaxx) In the test with the Contis that was their claim to fame against the others. The PSS are also a lower treadwear, but not by much. 340 to 300 respectively. I would have loved to have the PSS and would have bought them if I hadn't have gotten a great deal on the Contis. For the size that I'm running they would have cost a couple hundred more for a full set. Plus like I said, I wanted a little more comfort and by my understanding, not what the PSS is known for.