Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[1mang]

I am curious what people are getting in terms of mileage out of their Michelin Pilot Super Sport 255/35/18.

I just replaced my tires and got 13,700 miles and the inner tire was showing wire from the rear passenger side. I understand 15,000 miles is very good for these tires.

Before I had 245/40/18 Continental Contact DW and had to replace it after 10,000 miles.

[Eyeman]

You must have an alignment type issues, too much toe, etc. Even when i was running max factory camber (3deg) my PSSs went more like 22k miles.

[MT135]

I've gone through a set in 12k miles, went through another set in 35K miles. Depends on driving style and setup.

[Rudy@tirerack]

I agree. Sounds like you may need to check your camber/toe on your alignment.

[TX135i]

I got just over 20K from mine.

[1mang]

My alignment was off!

For some reason I thought it was normal for Michelin Pilot Super Sport to get around ~15k on the rear which made me think this was normal. I didn't have any drifting while driving in a straight line or steering wheel off center. Lesson learned.

Let's see how these Michelin Pilot A/S 3 last me....initial impressions are very good. For "spirited" street driving it is pretty grippy compared to Pilot Super Sport. If Michelin Pilot Super Sport are 10/10...it is 8.5/10 minimum

[VMRWheels]

Definitely seems like an alignment issue. 12k seems like a very short life, unless you were having a lot of fun with them.

[brocklanders]

I currently have Dunlop star specs, I haven't really been keeping track of wear but it's far from 20k. So now I'm thinking about switching, my only real concern is grip and I live in Houston so I can run a summer all year. So my question is which is better for grip pss or ps2?

[1mang]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Definitely seems like an alignment issue. 12k seems like a very short life, unless you were having a lot of fun with them.

No track days but a lot of mountainous driving.

I'd say 60% highway 10% city 30% mountains.

[1mang]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

I currently have Dunlop star specs, I haven't really been keeping track of wear but it's far from 20k. So now I'm thinking about switching, my only real concern is grip and I live in Houston so I can run a summer all year. So my question is which is better for grip pss or ps2?

I think PS2 should be better for grip. However, not sure what your driving style would be but PSS is very good for street driving. I didn't believe the hype until I tried it.

I've had Dunlop Star Specs (first version) on another car and I'd say PSS is same if not better grip. Plus it is more quiet, smooth, good in wet, great steering response, and lasts longer.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

I currently have Dunlop star specs, I haven't really been keeping track of wear but it's far from 20k. So now I'm thinking about switching, my only real concern is grip and I live in Houston so I can run a summer all year. So my question is which is better for grip pss or ps2?

Are the star specs supposed have lower tread life than the regular zII (they have the same treadware rating? I only ask because the ZIIs have been wearing much better than the PSS tires i had which was unexpected (also got a new alignment with the tires, which explains some of it).

Originally Posted by 1mang

I think PS2 should be better for grip. However, not sure what your driving style would be but PSS is very good for street driving. I didn't believe the hype until I tried it.

I've had Dunlop Star Specs (first version) on another car and I'd say PSS is same if not better grip. Plus it is more quiet, smooth, good in wet, great steering response, and lasts longer.

the 2nd gen ZIIs are a lot better (my experience), the biggest improvement was wet and cold grip. Compared to PSS they have better dry grip and steering feel, but compared to the PSS they are louder, stiffer, and still arn't as good as the PSS in the rain.

[brocklanders]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

Are the star specs supposed have lower tread life than the regular zII (they have the same treadware rating? I only ask because the ZIIs have been wearing much better than the PSS tires i had which was unexpected (also got a new alignment with the tires, which explains some of it).

the 2nd gen ZIIs are a lot better (my experience), the biggest improvement was wet and cold grip. Compared to PSS they have better dry grip and steering feel, but compared to the PSS they are louder, stiffer, and still arn't as good as the PSS in the rain.

If this is the concensus I may stick with the Dunlops, I don't mind loud and rough and I drive like grandma in the wet. I don't really notice excessive noise until they wear down, and they're a tad bit cheaper than ps2's. I think my problem may be I act as if I'm on a go kart track around every turn with dsc off. I am on my third set of rears, o.e. and second set of star specs in 30k miles.

[lo-tek]

Originally Posted by TX135i

I got just over 20K from mine.

Ditto on my rears. Just replaced after 2 years and 20k miles. Still rolling on the fronts.

[Gregoriovv]

I have about 600 miles on mine and the outside shoulders are shot with just 3 track days! The rest of the tire looks mostly new though. I just installed Bilstein coilovers and aligned with more neg camber so hopefully that will help. Good tire though, nothing negative to say about them, just cooked them at the track...

[1mang]

Originally Posted by Gregoriovv

I have about 600 miles on mine and the outside shoulders are shot with just 3 track days! The rest of the tire looks mostly new though. I just installed Bilstein coilovers and aligned with more neg camber so hopefully that will help. Good tire though, nothing negative to say about them, just cooked them at the track...

I assume you are talking about the front tires?

I thought maybe its my driving or the roads I am on but my front tires especially the shoulders show excessive wear in the twisties.

Do you hear like a light tapping/clicking noise during hard tight turns?

[Gregoriovv]

Originally Posted by 1mang

I assume you are talking about the front tires?

I thought maybe its my driving or the roads I am on but my front tires especially the shoulders show excessive wear in the twisties.

Do you hear like a light tapping/clicking noise during hard tight turns?

Yea mostly the fronts are shot but the rears have quite a bit of scuff. I don't hear any odd noises from the tires though.

[AntonioZ]

I am having the same problem right now, right rear passenger is showing threads but i know i definitely could use an alignment. I am on my first set on this car i'm at 14,000 on mine!

[Dackelone]

AntonioZ

Originally Posted by 1mang

I think PS2 should be better for grip. However, not sure what your driving style would be but PSS is very good for street driving. I didn't believe the hype until I tried it.

I've had Dunlop Star Specs (first version) on another car and I'd say PSS is same if not better grip. Plus it is more quiet, smooth, good in wet, great steering response, and lasts longer.

PSS are better then PS2 in every way. Including grip.

Do they still even make PS2's ???

The most I have ever gotten out of my rear Mischelin PS3(I'm in Germany) has been almost 30K kms. The least, has been 17K kms. My alignment is perfect.

This is what happens when you have a 400+ Hp car and an open diff.


Michelin A/S will get much better wear bc the tread wear rating is sky high on those tires. I think PSS are rated at 170 twi while the A/S versoins are up around 490 twi.


What I really love best about my Michelin's is even when there is very little tire tread(under 2mm's) these things still grip very well in the rain and cold. Plus the tires never get noisy as they age. Most tires will make all sorts of wheel bearing type noises - at half thread or less. Not the Michelin's - they are magical as far as I am concerned.

Dack

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Do they still even make PS2's ???

Pilot Sport 2 PS2's have been replaced by Pilot Super Sports, which are apparently getting replaced by the new Pilot Sport 4 tire this year in most aftermarket sizes. Pilot Sport 3 PS3's have also been replaced by Pilot Sport 4.

OE will still be the PSS although there's already an N-rated (OE Porsche) Pilot Sport 4 tire. I think BMW will continue using PSS till Michelin discontinues the PSS range completely (2017-18?)

I might be wrong because there's a lot of confusion there... or maybe it's just me who's confused, LOL.

[Pablito1702]

I have PSS 225/40R18 fronts and 255/35R18 rears that I purchased from Tire Rack in 2012 and am rolling past 40,000 miles of freeway driving and there is still some tread left (car has 82K miles). No flats and even wear. 5 minutes ago I just ordered PSS replacements from Costco website ($920 installed).

[1mang]

UPDATE:

I replaced my Michelin Pilot Super Sports with Michelin Pilot A/S 3 (non-plus) on 3/2/2016 with 82,937 miles as you can see from my original post date. I was hoping these tires would outlast the Michelin Pilot Super Sports but as of now, 10/3/2016 and roughly 93,000 miles, the rear tires are starting to get close to the wear bars. This seems pretty strange after 7 months and 10k miles for a tire that has 45,000 mile warranty. I know it is cut in half due to the stagger fitment so 22,500 miles. I have started a case number through Michelin and will report back on what America's Tire have to say about this. Looks like the Michelin Pilot A/S 3+ (plus) versions are my only options now as the front still has plenty of tread.

[1mang]

And yes I got an alignment shortly after getting the tires installed and another alignment for good measure (I hit a bump and was concerned about alignment). I also check my tire pressure monthly using 36 psi front and rear cold per door jab.