Love/Hate: Michelin Pilot Super Sport

[Tommie38]

I have a 2014 M135i that I bought a couple of years ago. It came with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. BMW star marked, in theory designed for the car.

I just spent another winter tiptoeing around because they are borderline lethal in the cold and wet.

Just as I was getting totally fed up with them, the weather turned warmer and I have just been out for a drive on a day that peaked at 14 degrees. The tyres in the warm are back to being absolutely fantastic. Incredible turn in and really good feel. Although an older design they really are enjoyable to drive on in the right weather.

The tyre sizes are a little limiting (245/35 and 225/40 R18), but broadly I know all of my options. Either get a set of winter wheels or replace with Michelin Pilot 4S/5 or Goodyear Asymmetric 6. I tend to find most modern Michelins (including 4S) have a bit of a softer feel which I don’t like as much. Asymm 6 probably better, I have enjoyed those on another car. But I bet none of them will beat a Super Sport on a warm day.

I guess just a moan. My love/hate relationship with the Super Sport…

[matt5964]

On our m140 we went super sport, then Asy6 which was a great alroud step, but as you say lacked the outright warm day feeling

Then we discovered the Goodyear f1 suprtsport and this fills the gap in between, miles better than the mSS in cold damp days and easily on a Parton a warm summers day. Perfect tyre for daily duty’s with the spirited driver in mind

[Tommie38]

matt5964 said:

On our m140 we went super sport, then Asy6 which was a great alroud step, but as you say lacked the outright warm day feeling

Then we discovered the Goodyear f1 suprtsport and this fills the gap in between, miles better than the mSS in cold damp days and easily on a Parton a warm summers day. Perfect tyre for daily duty s with the spirited driver in mind

Oh interesting. Haven’t really heard people recommend the Goodyear SuperSport. In my head it was quite an old tyre and likely to have the same kind of limitations as the Michelin Super Sport.

[matt5964]

Far from it, heats up super quick, lasts a reasonable amount of time as well

[stevieturbo]

Tommie38 said:

I have a 2014 M135i that I bought a couple of years ago. It came with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. BMW star marked, in theory designed for the car.

I just spent another winter tiptoeing around because they are borderline lethal in the cold and wet.

Just as I was getting totally fed up with them, the weather turned warmer and I have just been out for a drive on a day that peaked at 14 degrees. The tyres in the warm are back to being absolutely fantastic. Incredible turn in and really good feel. Although an older design they really are enjoyable to drive on in the right weather.

The tyre sizes are a little limiting (245/35 and 225/40 R18), but broadly I know all of my options. Either get a set of winter wheels or replace with Michelin Pilot 4S/5 or Goodyear Asymmetric 6. I tend to find most modern Michelins (including 4S) have a bit of a softer feel which I don t like as much. Asymm 6 probably better, I have enjoyed those on another car. But I bet none of them will beat a Super Sport on a warm day.

I guess just a moan. My love/hate relationship with the Super Sport

Not PSS, but you get the idea. Even with almost same tyre, BMW steered more towards dry warmer use for their OE tyre, than crappy weather we get in the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COA630Juf_U

There are so many variants of Michelin's these days though. If an actual PSS, that is more of a pretty hot road tyre really. Of PS 2, 3, 4...whatever, they seem to be a bit more road orientated.

There are so many great reviews on Jon's Tyre Reviews channel, lots of info there to make a decision as to what might suit you best for your driving conditions.

Something more towards cold/damp conditions sounds like a far better option ? What is the overall balance of weather, temperatures, road conditions ?

[mmm-five]

There are better tyres out there nowadays, but when I first started using them they were the dog's danglies.

Used them for UK trackdays in all weathers and on Touristfahrten at the Nordschliefe.

Probably did 2-3 sets a year back then (including 25,000 road miles).

Nurburgring






Oulton Park

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 23 March 12:40

[toon10]

I had the MPSS on my M135i and they were superb in the dry but not great with cold or wet weather. I had the Pilot Sport 4S on my 540i and they were superb. I'm now running Pilot Sport 5's on my 340i. There's more give on them when pushing on but they are much better all weather tyres. The MPSS and PS4S had a harder sidewall and gave slightly better handling but not as good all year round. I'd say the PS5's are the better daily choice if you're not tracking the car.

[nickfrog]

Conti SC7 would be a massive upgrade and surprisingly cheap and lasts longer than one could assume with Conti.

[_Rodders_]

I'd either do separate summer/winter wheels or just be done with it and fit Michelin Cross Climate Sport 3's.

[Shaoxter]

nickfrog said:

Conti SC7 would be a massive upgrade and surprisingly cheap and lasts longer than one could assume with Conti.

This is the way.
I've had SC7, PS4S, PS5, PSS and the SC7 is the best in both dry and wet. Although that's not a scientific test as they weren't all on the same car.

[Tommie38]

nickfrog said:

Conti SC7 would be a massive upgrade and surprisingly cheap and lasts longer than one could assume with Conti.

Sadly not available in size. Same for the new Pirelli P Zero.

[Tommie38]

_Rodders_ said:

I'd either do separate summer/winter wheels or just be done with it and fit Michelin Cross Climate Sport 3's.

Or even a set of PS5 for the winter. I live in London so it’s rarely very cold. I saw I think 14 degrees on a day on December last year.

I’ve watched all of the TyreReviews videos from Jon and he talked about the PSS being that last 10% better than the PS4S. But the problem is that’s the bit that I am appreciating most in the tyre.

I’ve got a lot of experience on Michelin and Goodyear tyres, including Cup 2, so do know and understand the trades.

I probably should have titled this thread ‘Grumpy because I need to buy a set of winter wheels’.

[Tommie38]

mmm-five said:

There are better tyres out there nowadays, but when I first started using them they were the dog's danglies.

Used them for UK trackdays in all weathers and on Touristfahrten at the Nordschliefe.

Probably did 2-3 sets a year back then (including 25,000 road miles).

Nurburgring






Oulton Park

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 23 March 12:40

I can imagine not terrible on a wet track with a lot of heat in them.

I remember doing a trip to the Nurburgring on Cups (the originals) in the rain. Never again…

[nickfrog]

Tommie38 said:

Sadly not available in size. Same for the new Pirelli P Zero.

Damn. Bridgestone Potenza Sport?

[John D.]

Tommie38 said:

_Rodders_ said:

I'd either do separate summer/winter wheels or just be done with it and fit Michelin Cross Climate Sport 3's.

Or even a set of PS5 for the winter. I live in London so it s rarely very cold. I saw I think 14 degrees on a day on December last year.

I ve watched all of the TyreReviews videos from Jon and he talked about the PSS being that last 10% better than the PS4S. But the problem is that s the bit that I am appreciating most in the tyre.

I ve got a lot of experience on Michelin and Goodyear tyres, including Cup 2, so do know and understand the trades.

I probably should have titled this thread Grumpy because I need to buy a set of winter wheels .

I'd go PS4S, PS5, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport, or Continental Sport Contact 7 if I was you. Friends of mine rave about the CS7. It's the newest so probably the one to go for. I've run PS4S and Eagle F1 SS on a RS Megane in all weathers/ commuting etc in the South. They work fine down to cold temperatures with a bit of common sense.

[the-norseman]

I've had PSS and PS4 on a 981 Cayman S and they were great.