Michelin Pilot Super Sports

[XJR9LM]

Need four new tyres on my E90 M3, currently running Michelin Pilot Sport 2s and could do a straight replacement or move to Pilot Super Sports. From what I can see the Super Sports look like a better all round tyre but I wanted to know if they are more track focussed (like the Cup) or are suitable for everyday use, particularly in the wet. Can anyone share any experience, also what's the wear rate compared to the old PS2s?

[RichardM5]

The PSS is a superior tyre in almost all respects compared to the PS/2. Better dry and wet grip, better wear. The side walls a slightly stiffer so you get a little more noise and a slightly firmer ride.

If the PSS is available in the size you want, get it!

[XJR9LM]

Thanks, very helpful and sounds like a no-brainer!

[Palmball]

It is a no-brainer - I'd describe them as an advancement towards Pilot Cup capability, but with all the real-world (wet, longevity) requirements that you'd need.

[Vladimir]

Very impressed with ours and I was a due hard Continental fan.
Not silly expensive either.

[turboman786]

I've got mpss all round on my c63 amg.....amazing tyre......minimal traction issues despite the huge torque going through the rear wheels

[pjv997]

Another fan and would echo prior comments - had a couple of sets of PSS now and previously had two sets of PS2s.

[HammyHamster]

I think Michelin PSS is a great tyre but one thing I noticed when I put them on my previous E90 M3 is they have extremely wide rain channels in the 265/35/19 size. I'm not sure why this is the case, but I did notice it made the M3 a bit "floaty" at the rear (this could just also be because they weren't scrubbed in yet). In other sizes (e.g. 265/30/19 or 275/35/19) they have much narrower grooves, which presumably means more contact patch on the road and better stability/grip.

In fact, this post on M3Post shows there is 20% more tyre contact patch going from 265 to 275 with Michelin PSS.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=140939...

As an example:

[Johnb850]

They are a fantastic tyre.

I've been really impressed with the wet grip they give my M135i.

[Max M4X WW]

Johnb850 said:

I've been really impressed with the wet grip they give my M135i.

This is good to hear, I'd wrongly assumed they wouldn't be very good in the wet and would wear fast in the dry!

[Slippydiff]

RichardM5 said:

The PSS is a superior tyre in almost all respects compared to the PS/2. Better dry and wet grip, better wear. The side walls a slightly stiffer so you get a little more noise and a slightly firmer ride.

If the PSS is available in the size you want, get it!

That's not my experience. I found them to be quieter and more compliant. A lot of 1M Coupe owners have fitted them to improve that cars ride/compliance and traction. Wet weather grip is massively impressive compared with the PS2 (and not too far off Cups in the dry)

[RichardM5]

Maybe different sizes behave slightly differently, maybe due to the tread differences mentioned above. I've been running them for a year on my E39 M5, 245/40 R18 front, 275/35 R18 rear, done about 15,000 miles on them.

[JMRS4]

They are STD on my LCI M5, great grip and wear factor, get them you will not regret it.

[W8PMC]

As above, got them on my F10 M5 & so far loving them. They appear very predictable & reassuring so far but having only covered 2800 miles i can't really comment on wear.

[jon-]

Everyone has summed this tyre up perfectly.

It's the best of the best at the moment.

[///Mike]

Absolute no brainer. Change with confidence!

They are incredible in the wet. By far the best Tyre I have ever had on my M3 and I have tried the majority of the premium sport tyres over the years.

Again I haven't bothered with winter tyres this year I just put new PSS's on and they have been fine. I am sure they will be pants in the snow but I wouldn't take the M out in Snow even if I did have winters for fear of all the other idiots.

[XJR9LM]

Thanks all for the comments, really very helpful and I have ordered a set of Super Sports for fitting on Saturday!

Very much appreciated!

[clabcon]

The Pilot Sport 3 tyres on my 2001 E46 330 on MV2 alloys only have a few mm left, so am looking at getting a set of these. Unfortunately, the front 225/40 R18 and rear 255/35 R18 sizes are not available in the UK. I can import a set in the right sizes from Michelin North America. Is the compound likely to be different due to the climate though?

[RossP]

That's my new tyre choice sorted! Glad I spotted this thread as I was going to stick with the Contis.

[RichardM5]

clabcon said:

The Pilot Sport 3 tyres on my 2001 E46 330 on MV2 alloys only have a few mm left, so am looking at getting a set of these. Unfortunately, the front 225/40 R18 and rear 255/35 R18 sizes are not available in the UK. I can import a set in the right sizes from Michelin North America. Is the compound likely to be different due to the climate though?

They are identical, the US tyres are even E marked so are legal to use in Europe. I imported the 275/35 R18's for my M5, they are just becoming available in Europe now. The cost is astronomic though, by the time you factor in shipping and import duty they will be 2 times the cost of anything you buy in the UK.