Bigger tires on rear....Bad idea?
#21
GT Member
Thread Starter
"“The PSS has the best balance of wet and dry performance we’ve ever experienced in testing,” from BMW Blog.
#22
Shelby GT350 Member
I instructed a guy in a BMW 335is (rwd) this past October at Limerock. The morning sessions were wet, and it was his first time at Limerock, 2nd time at a road course. His car stuck like glue compared to just about every other car out there in the wet conditions.
He was running Pilot Super Sports.
For comparison, he was running ~1.15 laps and I was running 1.25 laps in my Mustang after doing about 900-1000 laps at Limerock... the tires were simply amazing in the rain and on his BMW platform. They would be awful in the cold, snowy conditions though.
BTW when it dried out, he got down to about 1.09 laps and I was 1.01... I simply could not get my car to hook up with the street tires I ran in the rain, but the Michelins were almost impossible to break free. I was extremely impressed with them!
He was running Pilot Super Sports.
For comparison, he was running ~1.15 laps and I was running 1.25 laps in my Mustang after doing about 900-1000 laps at Limerock... the tires were simply amazing in the rain and on his BMW platform. They would be awful in the cold, snowy conditions though.
BTW when it dried out, he got down to about 1.09 laps and I was 1.01... I simply could not get my car to hook up with the street tires I ran in the rain, but the Michelins were almost impossible to break free. I was extremely impressed with them!
#23
Legacy TMS Member
I must have been confusing "cold" with "wet" then, which I guess are pretty simultaneous in my climate. Sounds like you'll be good with them then! I'd still put more money towards the wheel and tire package you really want, and save on the stock replacements... My $0.02
#24
Bullitt Member
I must have been confusing "cold" with "wet" then, which I guess are pretty simultaneous in my climate. Sounds like you'll be good with them then! I'd still put more money towards the wheel and tire package you really want, and save on the stock replacements... My $0.02
I run summer tires the entire year. But then, I don't go to Tahoe in my Mustang either ;-)
#25
Shelby GT500 Member
I had to replace my 888's on the front with some PSS and I knew there'd be a drop-off in performance, but I'm still somewhat disappointed. They don't really improve wet traction and they're nowhere near as sharp on dry turns. I was hoping for better, but they'll be street tires and I'll use the other rims for racing exclusively with some R6's and solve that little issue.
#26
Legacy TMS Member
#27
Bullitt Member
A good summer tire usually outperforms an all season in the wet.
And indeed, amazing how much rain we got lately! Good help to fight the drought, but it would have been nice if this rain was not concentrated in a few days in December, but spread a little over the year.
#28
Legacy TMS Member
Bigger is nice, but better is the key. The Pirellis are crap.
And while I know everyone's already talked about the Michelins, I would also put up a suggestion for checking out the Cooper Zeon RS3 (A is All Season, S is summer)
I really *really* liked those, and they wore very well. They're asymmetrical but non directional, which means you just stick the word 'outside' out and you can rotate them (provided you get all the same size.)
But I dunno how they'd do with the 5.0. With the 4.6, they were great. And Roush spec'd them (indeed, worked with Cooper to make them what they are) on their Mustangs, so there's that.
In case that helps/matters.
And while I know everyone's already talked about the Michelins, I would also put up a suggestion for checking out the Cooper Zeon RS3 (A is All Season, S is summer)
I really *really* liked those, and they wore very well. They're asymmetrical but non directional, which means you just stick the word 'outside' out and you can rotate them (provided you get all the same size.)
But I dunno how they'd do with the 5.0. With the 4.6, they were great. And Roush spec'd them (indeed, worked with Cooper to make them what they are) on their Mustangs, so there's that.
In case that helps/matters.
#29
Shelby GT500 Member
I can vouch for the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S line as I run them year round here in Germany. Even in snow. All my friends that have M3's and drive them on the Nürburgring use either the Super Sports or the Cups. My next summer only set will be the SS or Cups.
#30
Legacy TMS Member
yeah, but aren't the stock Pirelli tires all season tires? (Mine were, but I have a regular GT premium). A good summer tire usually outperforms an all season in the wet. And indeed, amazing how much rain we got lately! Good help to fight the drought, but it would have been nice if this rain was not concentrated in a few days in December, but spread a little over the year.
#31
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: July 5, 2011
Location: La Jolla, CA
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My '08 Bullitt has 235/50/18's as the stock size and I tried 255/45/18's on it to try and get the wider tire look. To be honest, it didn't really do that much other than make the wheel gap look worse since the tire is a little bit "shorter." I went back to the 235/50/18 size. Looks better on the car IMO after having them both. As others have suggested, you're better off just getting wider wheels and getting something like a 275 or 295 if you want that look.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
M3hunter
Suspension, Brakes, and Tire Tech
5
9/10/15 09:26 AM