Car & Driver recent tire test: August Issue

Bruce Bartlow

Bruce Bartlow

Late apex everything
1,599
865
Sacramento, CA
Vehicle Model
Rented a C8 for a week (what a monster) ended up buying a TLX. Beautiful car inside and out. Killer stereo. Handles better than it should given its weight. Not my dream car, just a Honda Accord in a tux.
Body Style
Sedan with the backseat of a two-seater
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport won top honors. It's a summer tire also outstanding in the wet. 300 AA wear rating. 30,000 mile warranty. Service 94Y. The 215/45/17 for the 2012 SI is about $170 - $175.

"The PSS has the best balance of wet and dry performance we've ever experienced in testing".

Coming in number two was Bridgestone Potenza s-04 Pole Position. When I asked about this tire at America's Tire (Discount Tire) the advisor said the tire has great grip but might not even last two years.
 
Bruce Bartlow said:
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport won top honors. It's a summer tire also outstanding in the wet. 300 AA wear rating. 30,000 mile warranty. Service 94Y. The 215/45/17 for the 2012 SI is about $170 - $175.

"The PSS has the best balance of wet and dry performance we've ever experienced in testing".

Coming in number two was Bridgestone Potenza s-04 Pole Position. When I asked about this tire at America's Tire (Discount Tire) the advisor said the tire has great grip but might not even last two years.
Click to expand...
_________________________
Here is the full text from Car & Driver for the Michelin Pilot Super Sport:

"Two years ago, Ferrari launched the 458 Italia a few months before Michelin released its Pilot Super Sport (PSS). Because Ferrari wanted the PSS for the 458 but Michelin didn't want to preempt its own release, some of the early 458's were delivered
on "Michelin Pilot Sport PS2" tires. But those PS2s were actually PSSs. It is isn't hard to understand why Ferrari wanted the "custom" PSSs for the 458."

"We praised the PSS for its steering precision in the wet, second only to Conti [referring to the DWS]. Having the most lateral grip in the wet, at .086g, helped close the lap-time gap with the Conti, too, but the Michelin got there with less finesse and feedback."

"It felt firm and planted on the dry autocross and brought the steering wheel to life in our hands, as did the Yoko, the Hankook, and the Dunlop". [other tires reviewed in the same article]

"The Michelin PSS finished with the second-quickest lap in both the wet and dry autocrosses, just 0.1 and 0.2 second behind the leaders, respectively."

"The PSS has the best balance of wet and dry performance we've ever experienced in testing. The minute compromises in each discipline make "Super" a worthy part of its name. It's our winner."
 
I started with my experience with Mich/Conti in the late 60' , Cars/bikes. The bike tyres are harder in the middle for better wear across the tread from side to side, anything that makes my bike fell plated is going to move me in the same direction with car tyres.
 
Bruce Bartlow said:
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport won top honors. It's a summer tire also outstanding in the wet. 300 AA wear rating. 30,000 mile warranty. Service 94Y. The 215/45/17 for the 2012 SI is about $170 - $175.

"The PSS has the best balance of wet and dry performance we've ever experienced in testing".

Coming in number two was Bridgestone Potenza s-04 Pole Position. When I asked about this tire at America's Tire (Discount Tire) the advisor said the tire has great grip but might not even last two years.
Click to expand...
__________________
Clarification: The advisor discussed above made the comment about the s-04 Pole Position, NOT the Pilot Super Sports. The PSS's should get 30,000 miles.
 
One thing that I think not everybody makes clear is that these tires won't last more than 2 seasons, or sometimes only one season, if you buy them it is because you enjoy the better grip. With that comes the fact you will use that better grip so they will wear out fast :) I will buy some as well but expecting the short life. I have read tons of reviews where people say "these are amazing tires but they do not last me more than a summer" and I think it shows some of us are not realizing that it is 30k until they're bald.
 
My Civic came with the 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports and i put 13000 kms on them this summer (8300 Miles) and there didn't seem to be very much wear on them. I would have to think that i would get 30000 miles out of them as long as i am not spinning the tires every time i take off. That being said when i had them rotated they mentioned that there seemed to be more wear in the back tires than the front tires.
 
Intrepid said:
My Civic came with the 215/40R18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports and i put 13000 kms on them this summer (8300 Miles) and there didn't seem to be very much wear on them. I would have to think that i would get 30000 miles out of them as long as i am not spinning the tires every time i take off. That being said when i had them rotated they mentioned that there seemed to be more wear in the back tires than the front tires.
Click to expand...
Are you sure they are Pilot Super Sports? I'm pretty sure no Civic in North America is available with those tires from the factory. The all-seasons that come standard are Michelin HX MXM4 and the summer option is Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2s. The Pilot Super Sports are much higher performance than either option.
 
When you buy a HFP Civic with the 18" HFP wheels, the tires that come with the HFP Package are Michelin Pilot Super Sports. And they make the car stick to the road like glue. Really good summer tires, but dreadfully expensive
 
I'm trying to wear out the garbage tires my car came with so I have a good excuse to by some sticky tires. This is good information!
I've got winter wheels so I can have summer rubber on my stock rims. :cheerleader:
 
Intrepid said:
When you buy a HFP Civic with the 18" HFP wheels, the tires that come with the HFP Package are Michelin Pilot Super Sports. And they make the car stick to the road like glue. Really good summer tires, but dreadfully expensive
Click to expand...
Ic. I didn't realize you had the HFP Civic. I forgot that those were even available
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top