Need pic: MPSS vs Primacy

[ToySub1946]

I have 2015 FRS with stock wheels. I don't even know what their width is.

Recently got new tires and went with 225/45/17 rather than 215/45/17. Can't really tell much difference. Difference is so subtle overall. Can't tell any acceleration difference from a stop.
Certainly it does throw the odometer/speedometer off. Gas mileage shows worse as I'm obviously not getting a true reading.

I have a long story about the tire change I just did. Basically all I can say is the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires are terrible...no steering feel. So I got rid of them. Hope the Pilot Super Sports will please you. I maybe should have gone with them.

Unless you are going to track your car, I'd advise sticking with the tires which came on your car, until they are worn out. Nothing wrong with Primacy HP tires in my mind. I got 48k miles on my original HPs. And I liked the steering feel and the somewhat hard ride they give.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Basically all I can say is the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires are terrible...no steering feel.

Their marketing literature reads 28% increase in snow traction. Snow traction?

[ToySub1946]

Yes, unfortunately I realized that fact after buying the Pilot Sport A/S 3+

To make a tire better in snow, the compound in the tire must be softened. Result is a poorer handling tire in non snow conditions.


Having experienced that model tire, I'd say they are sticky, good in rain, good grip overall. They also have soft sidewalls which result in much less direct steering feel through the steering wheel of the car. They also have a fairly soft ride.
I was spoiled by my previous Primacy HP tires which have great steering feel in comparison, yet a harder ride quality.

So I decided to go back to a new set of Primacy HP tires. Possibly would have liked the Pilot Super Sport, yet have not tried them. I was just afraid to buy max performance summer tires for the wet climate I live in.

Oddly the Primacy HP tires are (on Tire Rack) in a category of Grand Touring tires...which seems odd to me. I thought Grand Touring to mean a luxury European brand of car more focused on ride than handling. After driving on the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires, I'd put that tire in a Grand Touring category rather than All Season.

[Ganthrithor]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

So I decided to go back to a new set of Primacy HP tires. Possibly would have liked the Pilot Super Sport, yet have not tried them. I was just afraid to buy max performance summer tires for the wet climate I live in.

MPSS handle spectacularly well in rain, actually. And the Primacies feel like they want to kill you as soon as a drop of dew hits the ground. The stock tyres are horrific in the wet, especially once they have some wear on them. Get a set of Super Sports next time: you won't regret it.

[qqzj]

Nice discussion. If one wants to stay with 215 45 R17 and gets 40k miles or so, is there a better tire than Primacy HP? Thanks a lot for the help!

[86 South Africa]

Originally Posted by Last Lemming Alive

Can’t see how this is going to work. How do you know if they are relative to one another I size? You could guess I suppose but it wouldn’t be as good as a side by side pic. I want to stick with 215’s and if I saw a pic side by side I could judge if I needed to step up to 225’s.

I suppose you have a point... prob best to hit the local tyre shop then and see both in person?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Last Lemming Alive

You guys that have gone from 215 to 225 on 17’s, how does acceleration differ.

Acceleration difference depends on what I've had to eat that day.

If I had a large wet burrito, then maybe it suffers. If I ate at Soup Plantation, I might get an extra 0.1 seconds on my commute.

215 to 225 is going to make zero difference for you in terms of acceleration. May make a huge difference in cornering feel though.

[churchx]

qqzj: imho tires are single part that is most important in any car and better never be cheaped out on (same for brakes, importance-wise). Grip, handling, braking, comfort, economy, safety .. everything is affected by tire choice. I wouldn't aim to 40K mileage from tire set as priority. In my book things like reliable/more grip at wide range of road/weather states i may drive them at is much more important then singled out wear, thus i'd rather have two sets worn, but have grip/safety much higher for those 2x20K miles, then one low grip set that will last longer. Primacies are nice tires to learn/familiarise with car, but are they worth buying once you get through first set? Imho no, unless you get slightly used stock set of them for very cheap at some classifieds .. but by then, other tire types also can be got for less if used.

[Last Lemming Alive]

I ended up going with 215/45 MPSS. I will be getting them put on tomorrow. I had MPSS when I had my 2011 STI and they were amazing. I decided that I only want to do things to my BRZ that will only make performance better and not worse. While a wider tire make have “looked better” the weight gain of the tire, the larger rolling diameter, and the slight loss of steering feel was not going to be worth it to me in the end from an overall performance standpoint. Some people say I wouldn’t feel these affects but I’ve been moddeing cars for over 25 years and I’ve noticed the pro’s and con’s of just about every mod Ive ever done so I’m picky over some things alot of people do even sweat over, regardless I’m excited to see how these tires behave. My only concern is how much of the tail happy fun factor am I going to lose. I guess I’ll see tomorrow.

[Last Lemming Alive]

So glad I went with 215’s over the 225 it’s the perfect tire fitment. I’m posting a picture up here of the new PP wheel package with the 215/45’s on it so you can get an idea, or somebody else who might be interested with Michelin pilot super sports would look like on stock PP rims that are 7 1/2 inches wide. Sorry for the wheels and tires being so dirty!

Untitled by last lemming alive, on Flickr

[IMG]Untitled by last lemming alive, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by last lemming alive, on Flickr[/IMG]