New tyre time - Michelin Pilot Sport 3 or Continental Sport Contact 3?

[C240Sport97]

Just been having another quick look at the Pilot Super Sport tyres and the available sizes.

Although they don't do a 265/35/18 they do offer a 275/35/18 and having done a quick calculation online it seems that this is actually a better match for the 245/40/18s on the front?

I'm not one to normally stray from the OE specified sizes but from what I can work out, 275/35 is -0.4% different in diameter to the front 245/40/18 whereas the OE 265/35 is -1.6%?

Providing there's at least 5mm room for this additional width on the rear arches and/or suspension components, does this not make more sense?

It goes against my usual take on this but if the tyres are better matched size wise, and only ~ 1% between them it could work out well?

seems like PSS is the way to go ..

rears will be fine

211 chassis will easily take 275 at the back. 219 is 255 front and 285 back

 

[MWCLS]

I went for Michelin PS3 285/35/18zr XL 101y MO rear and 255/40/18zr XL 97y XL front. I've always had michelin on previous cars my last car was more performance focused and I found the PS2 's a brilliant all rounder.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

Will, it has to be PSS all day long for a variety of reasons.
Kamal

 

[MWCLS]

Will, it has to be PSS all day long for a variety of reasons.
Kamal

Hi, what reasons? I've had PSS on my last car M3.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

Hi, what reasons? I've had PSS on my last car M3.

Stability
Performance in dry and wet
Cost difference
Confidence in these vs Conti (had CS3 before)
Pot hole resistance (we don't have great roads now!)
Wear

I'll be sticking with PSS. Hope that helps. BTW - I run Vreds for winter, share on other threads before.

Kamal

 

[bolide]

At this level - ie Conti vs Michelin - the differences between them are going to be slight, assuming they are both current-genreation models

I'd go for the cheaper tyre and put the difference towards a 4-wheel alignment

Nick Froome

 

[MWCLS]

At this level - ie Conti vs Michelin - the differences between them are going to be slight, assuming they are both current-genreation models

I'd go for the cheaper tyre and put the difference towards a 4-wheel alignment

I have my wheels aligned maybe once every few years ( hunter ) I didn't think it necessary when changing tyres unless you are changing suspension parts?

 

[MWCLS]

Stability
Performance in dry and wet
Cost difference
Confidence in these vs Conti (had CS3 before)
Pot hole resistance (we don't have great roads now!)
Wear

I'll be sticking with PSS. Hope that helps. BTW - I run Vreds for winter, share on other threads before.

Kamal

I suppose it also comes down to the vehicle characteristics and what you've got under the bonnet!

 

[G.P]

I suppose it also comes down to the vehicle characteristics and what you've got under the bonnet!

Or how much grip you like when going around the twisty bits..

 

[ringway]

Had solely Michelins on everything I have owned in the last 25 years. They last a long time and as already said the PS3'S have excellent rim protection which is very useful.
PS3's on my E430 and I'm not convinced they are as good in the wet as PS2'S. I did a sharp stop recently in wet conditions and from 15mph to 0mph the tyres lost contact with the road surface (seem to remember this happening when I first bought them too).

I would imagine the Conti's are softer and won't last as long, but I haven't tried them (except the ones I inherited on my Range Rover which (different tyres) seemed to be very good. The ride was very smooth indeed.

Some smaller tyre dealers operate the Michelin discount scheme in which tyres are discounted by as much as (IIRC anything from £15 - £35 per tyre depending tyre size and on how many (2 or 4) are purchased. The discount is given as a fuel card and I have benefitted from this, although I have fallen out with Michelin after their site didn't recognise the Vito tyres on the scheme (did for the previous set) and I then failed to re-submit on time - my fault, but they have record of my fuel voucher claims, so knew I was a good customer and I have since voted with my feet - 4no 255X55X20 Pirelli's on my RR.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

Or how much grip you like when going around the twisty bits..

Totally correct. My comments were based on two things - the question posed is for tyres to go on a 55, which has a considerable amount of power, and my experience based on a 63 engine.

Less powerful cars e.g. my C240 there is little difference or value in going more expensive between Conti and Mich.

 

[MWCLS]

Totally correct. My comments were based on two things - the question posed is for tyres to go on a 55, which has a considerable amount of power, and my experience based on a 63 engine.

Less powerful cars e.g. my C240 there is little difference or value in going more expensive between Conti and Mich.

True but doing 100 mph on your private race track in your c240 or C63 amounts to the same thing.. safety and contact with the road.

 

[Ierton]

FWIW, original fitment for my car was Continental (probably SC2) from the factory.

I think I had RE050As on a different car some years back. Can't honestly remember much about them in neither a good nor bad way - is it another fairly old tyre model now?

When you say the Michelins are 'over priced and under performing' can you elaborate - which Michelin tyre?

How do the Bridgestones compare price wise to the Michelins then?

It had PS3s on it when I bought it. They're good in the wet but noisy and wear quite quickly in the dry. Given they're £50-odd more expensive per tyre than the Bridgestones (which I had on the 575) I was happy to put the original fitment back on.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

True but doing 100 mph on your private race track in your c240 or C63 amounts to the same thing.. safety and contact with the road.

I agree totally that brakes and tyres save lives, and has been the case for me in my previous cars. However, road or track, I'm not sure I would ever have the same driving style or same expectations of my C240 vs my C63.

 

[MWCLS]

I agree totally that brakes and tyres save lives, and has been the case for me in my previous cars. However, road or track, I'm not sure I would ever have the same driving style or same expectations of my C240 vs my C63.

Why ever not.

 

[Kid_Dav]

So is it safe to say PS2s are way forward ? In my case for a c63 coupe?

 

[rf065]

I replaced the overpriced and under-performing Michelins on my CLS55 for the original Bridgestone RE050As.

The Bridgstones are quite possibly the worst performing "performance" tyre on sale today, especially when wet. Best avoided, budget Falkens have more grip at half the price.

Russ

 

[kamalpatel12448]

So is it safe to say PS2s are way forward ? In my case for a c63 coupe?

No, Conti CS5 or Mich PSS. IMHO.
Kamal

 

[Kid_Dav]

No, Conti CS5 or Mich PSS. IMHO. Kamal

Conti sport 5s tend to be what Mercedes factory fit so I suppose they can't be a bad choice and currently what I have on the car at the mo

 

[Ierton]

The Bridgstones are quite possibly the worst performing "performance" tyre on sale today, especially when wet. Best avoided, budget Falkens have more grip at half the price.

Russ

Have to disagree completely. I've had Falken 452s in the past which were good at the price but I wouldn't put them on the CLS.