Michelin Pilot Super Sports available in our sizes, and are absolutely the best tire, period.

[macfly]

These tires have been besting the competition in every track test, and now they are available for all of us, both stock and with either stock Alpina rims, or upgraded 20" rims. Hopefully soon we'll have the run flat versions the new 'Vette is getting.



20" Alpina/BMW Motorsport etc - Front - 255/35ZR20
20" Alpina/BMW Motorsport etc - Rear - 295/30ZR20

Stock 18 - Front 245/45ZR18
Stock 18 - Rear 285/35ZR18

[Musta10000]

That is what I have on my Porsche and I have already decided that I would put these on my Z8 as well. Great grip - wet and dry, quiet. It also came as number two after Pirelli P-Zero in Consumer Reports for High Performance tires (not that consumer reports really matter that much...) Just FYI.

[Norcal]

I have them on my P-car too. Great on track and street... And man they wear well. I have about 10,000 street miles and 6 track days and they only look half done!

[Z8Mania]

I have them on my Z8 (see tire ripples thread). I have them on several vehicles and IMHO, short of a cup tire, they really are the best street tire out there. The shocking thing is not just the improved grip but also the improved ride comfort. Strangely, the car I felt they made the smallest difference to is the Z8. I can't explain it, but thats how it is. On the 599 they made the most difference.

[Doug Dolan]

Stock rear tires aren't 285/35ZR18, they're 275/40ZR18 (which, unfortunately, don't seem to be an available size). So it looks like those of us with OEM 18" wheels are still out of luck.

[macfly]

I took that into account when I was looking, but you can run a 285/35.

[thegunguy]

They're also available for my Style 166 19" M5 wheels, but at a $400 premium over the Contis I got last summer, I don't love them.

[Z8Mania]

When you wear the Contis out- they will be waiting....... they are the best street tire I've found.

[Z8Mania]

Ive had more driving on the MPSS and I can report they are a big improvement over the MPS2.

Specifically, they offer more initial grip and less understeer at highway speeds on sweepers and as the speeds go up the improvement gets larger. The ride comfort isn't a huge improvement on the Z8- but Ive felt a big improvement in other cars. The improvement in traction for hard launches is there too.

Overall, its a worthy improvement. I love these tires!

[macfly]

Mine were fitted today, and of course I'll report back once I have a chance to try them. However since I never exceeded the limits of the Pirelli's I'm not sure I'm fast enough to really notice the difference.

[Norcal]

I think you will notice quickly, and they should wear better?

[thegunguy]

Norcal's wear on his regularly tracked Cayman with PSS are dumbfounding.

Are you up to 5 days? Plus weekly street driving?

[Z8Mania]

Andrew, I think you don't have to be driving on the edge to feel the difference these tires make.

[Norcal]

Norcal's wear on his regularly tracked Cayman with PSS are dumbfounding.

Are you up to 5 days? Plus weekly street driving?

I put them on in march of 2012. I have about 10,000 street miles, and about 10 track days. And, they are not nearly used up at all!

[macfly]

After my first Sunday drive through the canyons with these tires I have to add to the chorus of approval, they really feel good, I'd give them an absolute two thumbs up.

[Norcal]

How well do the fit the fenders? Feel more grip? Better ride?

[macfly]

It's hard to say that the new tires are better than the Pirellis because I haven't driven the car in a month, but they are very, very good indeed. The ride and the grip are both excellent and the car feels really great on them. I'd suggest that they benefit from being a generation newer, and certainly all the tests I've read say they're the best tire. I feel confident in saying they feel better, but that could also be because they're fresh and the Pirellis were three years old.

[Z8Mania]

Its all of everything you say-- but these really are awesome tires.

[Z8LVR]

What would you all recommend for Alpina rear tires: 285/30 ZR20 or 295/30 ZR20 ?? (Michelin Super Sports without question.) Using original Alpina rims.
Thanks!!
Tom
Z8LVR

[Norcal]

295 is what I'm running on 20s... Currently pirellis.

[macfly]

295/30 ZR20 no question, but make sure your camber is set to -2.5

[Z8LVR]

Thanks guys. Original equipment calls for 285/30s, but i would think a little wider is better...

Tom

[Norcal]

I'm sure either would be fine... The slight extra width will just look a little better, and grip just a little better.

bTW: I'm still suffering from front tire outside wear, as is Andrew. Need to find a way to get more negative camber in the front suspension! And this is just street driving! Note to self: call Dinan to see if they can or will engineer a solution!

[macfly]

I've raised my fronts to 39psi, and keeping my rears to 36. I hope this will help as the insides and outsides were wearing faster than the centers. I mentioned this in a thread a while back and Jerry said that it's common practice on some of the front engined F-cars to run 3-4 lbs higher pressures up front.

[Norcal]

Good idea, thanks.

[mjacksonlaw]

They're also available for my Style 166 19" M5 wheels, but at a $400 premium over the Contis I got last summer, I don't love them.

I have ordered a set of these wheels for my car. What are the right sizes for the Michelin Pilot SS to fit these wheels? Have you installed the Brembos on the car?

[Z8Mania]

Correct. I have come to find that for whatever reason, and it could be psychological, I like to run 2-4psi more up front than in the rear, but it depends on the car and what the OEM asks for. Since the Z8 OEM (I think) is 35 all around, running as you are Andrew makes sense. Sometimes the new cars say to run like 35 front and 40 rear so to me I might make that 35->39 or so and maybe keep the rear at 40. My roads are bad and I think a little extra pressure doesn't hurt- a lot probably would.

[llioz]

Tire Rack recommends Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3. Any comments? And what about Michelin PS2?

Larry

[Norcal]

PSS.......... Done

[///M Blitz]

PSS.......... Done

I have a set in my garage waiting to replace the PS2s that are on there now. The PSSs were free, courtesy of Michelin who are now my favorite company in the whole wide world.

[Norcal]

My pirellis, which are about 5 or 6 years old, are now hard as rocks (heat cycled out). Time for some new PSS next spring!

[macfly]

You'll be very pleasantly surprised by the difference!

[mhunger]

Stock rear tires aren't 285/35ZR18, they're 275/40ZR18 (which, unfortunately, don't seem to be an available size). So it looks like those of us with OEM 18" wheels are still out of luck.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...8&autoModClar=

[macfly]

That's great news, these are absolutely the tires to get.

[Satch]

Yo, Super Sport II fans: Did you miss the memo on the Pilot Sport 4S? Jeez, some of these posts are ancient! As for sizes, the bigger the stagger, the greater the understeer. With a 275 on the back, I want something wider than a 245 up front, probably 255. With a 285 in the rear, it's even more important... unless you like understeer.

[Bend]

Those are the new benchmark. But, I'm going to hold onto my Super Sports until they make an analogous run flat. I love those private night-time dark-sky drives around Borrego Springs, but I can't help wishing for really good run flats, especially when me lady accompanies me in the coach. The PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS ZP has a pretty good rating, especially ride comfort, but I'm not sure if it's the one.

[Satch]

I, too, have been looking at Michelins ZP (for Zero Pressure) tires, but they are available in very few sizes, because they are OEM fitments. I'm thinking 275s and 255s for my nineteen-inch Style 89 wheels. But I have also been quite happy with the Bridgestone run-flats on the stock eighteens; I have between 15,000 and 20,000 miles on them at this point, and I like them a lot. One caveat: I had the European Alpina suspension installed on the car, along with H&R anti-roll bars, in order to account for any lack of compliance in the run-flats. (Hey, if it can deal with twenty-inch Alpina wheels wrapped in rubber bands, it ought to be fine with a stiff-walled run-flat!)

[2112]

I Love the Pilot SS. I currently run 285 in rear and 265 in front on 19" HRE's (To clear my Brembos) and a DINAN S2 suspension.

I am reading the 4S is going to be even better, but I am not sure I need better. I don't track the car.

[mhunger]

I Love the Pilot SS. I currently run 285 in rear and 265 in front on 19" HRE's (To clear my Brembos) and a DINAN S2 suspension.

I am reading the 4S is going to be even better, but I am not sure I need better. I don't track the car.

Michelin pilot super sports are no longer available in our fitment. Is there a second best option? I am looking at Continental ExtremeContact Sport. Any input would be appreciated

[2112]

I mis-typed, my fronts are 255's my old Yokohamas were 265's.

PS 2's (rear and fronts)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...S2V4&tab=Sizes

Pilot Sports (rears and fronts)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...SSXL&tab=Sizes

[FerrisBueller]

What is the latest thinking regarding the best tires?
1) 2001 model year with stock wheels
2) summer only and I avoid rain, if possible
3) don’t care about run flats, but wouldn’t turn them down, as they may have evolved better
Thanks for your advice,
Ferris

[MdN]

I have the Michelin Pilot SS at 36/39. Any better recommendation in terms of tire pressure?

[Charles]

I have the Michelin Pilot SS at 36/39. Any better recommendation in terms of tire pressure?

I run 34/36, but mostly because she sits on a lift and I don't want to have a problem if I take her out and forget to check them. I find 34/36 a bit full, and think she holds curves better with a little less air. I am not sure exactly, but would guess better grip without being too soft is about 32/34. I am kinda hard on a suspension, but hope I have learned my lesson after the recent cost to replace control arms.

[2112]

I am kinda hard on a suspension, but hope I have learned my lesson after the recent cost to replace control arms.

I missed this. Did you post a thread on the story that I can look for?

[Charles]

I missed this. Did you post a thread on the story that I can look for?

Not yet, but when I had to get the windshield replaced because of a crack, and get routine fluid changes, a few other things were discovered, so these are current prices:

Windshield: The part alone is $1400; expect to pay another $1000 for miscellaneous parts and labor. I got bids at Classic BMW (over twice that amount), BMW Grapevine, BMW Dallas and Autoscope Plano, which all were within a $100. I went with Autoscope, as Pat Arnold, the former BMWClassic Z8 guy I have used for years, moved there.

Front lower control arms:$1168. They wanted to do just the bushings, but I went through that with my E21, and labor is cheaper to replace the whole control arm. Add an alignment for $243.

Power Steering Hoses and Filter: $1531

Trunk Roundel: It delaminated, so I bought a replacement. I replaced them before on other BMW's, but could not get it off the Z8. Allegedly it is because the trunk is Aluminum. Anyway, labor was $84.