Where to buy front Michelin PS4s tyres.

[Rochester TVR]

Time has come to replace my tyres and want to get matching Pilot Sport 4s front and rear.

I know the rears are widely available in the UK in size 285/35 ZR19 but I’m struggling to find a website from abroad that I can order the fronts from in size 245/40 ZR19.

Does anyone have a link handy so I can get them ordered?

Thanks

[TR-Spider]

For some unknown reason Michelin doesn not make/sell the PS4s 245/40 R19 in Europe .
They sell it only in the US.

One could think of going for a PS4s 255/40 R19 in the front...

[Johnny42]

I had this problem. I have PS4s on the rear, and PS4 on the front! (I don't think you can get the PS4 to fit the rear either, in Europe, so you cannot have the same all round in a Michelin.)

[bogie]

I seem to remember we had the Michelin tyre discussion on here a few months back and someone posted an official statement from Michelin, its NOT recommended to mix tyre types on the car . I know there is likely not much notable difference in real world use, but that appears to be the Michelin official guidance.

If you have an accident the investigators will look at your tyres, and if the manufacturer says "not recommended fitment" it can be a contributor to the accident i.e. your fault (regardless of whether it really was).

I have experienced this before after a serious accident, and thankfully upon investigation of the non OE tyres fitted to my car, the tyre manufacturer did say they were approved for the car.

[Jon39]

I can remember another topic on this subject a few months ago. There was mention that Michelin had said (PS? the ones we like) tyres in Vantage size, would be available for the UK in spring 2019.

Perhaps therefore, it might be worth contacting Michelin UK to ask.

[SXIV]

Still showing as not available:

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tyres/pilot-sport-...

[Johnny42]

bogie said:

...If you have an accident the investigators will look at your tyres, and if the manufacturer says "not recommended fitment" it can be a contributor to the accident ...

Thanks for the info. It's interesting that Continental publicly say that it's OK to mix tyres (just not on an axle.) So I believe this is marketing strategy by Michelin to sell you 4 tyres, and a way for an insurance company to get off on a technicality, rather than any real risk. But the insurance issue is something to be wary of.

[Felonious]

If it helps, Conti Sport Contact 6s did better than PS4Ss in this recent test on Tyre Reviews. It's made my difficult search for PS4S less of an issue.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2019-Sport-Au...

[bogie]

Johnny42 said:

bogie said:

...If you have an accident the investigators will look at your tyres, and if the manufacturer says "not recommended fitment" it can be a contributor to the accident ...

Thanks for the info. It's interesting that Continental publicly say that it's OK to mix tyres (just not on an axle.) So I believe this is marketing strategy by Michelin to sell you 4 tyres, and a way for an insurance company to get off on a technicality, rather than any real risk. But the insurance issue is something to be wary of.

Yeah each tyre company can be slightly different in their advice, likely it is marketing or arse covering by Michelin.

It may be the difference between mainstream cars where the owners manual just specifies a tyre size, rather than performance cars that are delivered with a tyre that has been developend and approved for use on the car in a specific compound.

[Jon39]

bogie said:

If you have an accident the investigators will look at your tyres, and if the manufacturer says "not recommended fitment" it can be a contributor to the accident i.e. your fault (regardless of whether it really was).

I have experienced this before after a serious accident, and thankfully upon investigation of the non OE tyres fitted to my car, the tyre manufacturer did say they were approved for the car.

I initially wondered whether you are referring to the car manufacturer, but you then refer to the tyre manufacturer.

The OEM fit tyres often have an AM mark in the sidewall, even though we might replace them with what are apparently the same tyre, but without an AM mark. All very confusing.

How do we know therefore when buying tyres, that a correctly sized tyre is approved by the tyre manufacturer for our particular car?


Later edit -
I see on the Michelin website that when you search for AM Vantage, they list two tyres but not including the Pilot Sport 4S, even though for V8V (non S), they do sell PS4S tyres in the correct sizes.

Does that mean Michelin do not approve PS4S tyres for our cars?

Edited by Jon39 on Friday 10th May 21:26

[bogie]

For non OE recommended tyres then the safe bet is just ask the tyre company or supplier. Tyre suppliers have recommended fitment lists for models on their computer database that generates recommendations, not just based on size, but on manufacturer recommendation.

Checking Michelin list here gives 11 tyres they recommend for a V8 Vantage https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/browse-tyres/by-ve...

[Rochester TVR]

Thanks for the advice everyone. After reading about the continental sport contact 6 I think I’ll be buying these over the Michelin as it’s easier getting 4 matching tyres.

[EVR]

Why are you guys considering something else than the Bridgestone Potenza? They're not very good?

[DB9VolanteDriver]

They're not called BridgeSTONES for nothing.

[Johnny42]

EVR said:

Why are you guys considering something else than the Bridgestone Potenza? They're not very good?

I found them very harsh, they have stiff sidewalls and are crashy over certain kinds of bumps, like bridge expansion joints. I find that the Michelins ride a lot better. I'm sure they have superior grip i the wet and dry too, but less relevant for normal road use.

[rovcallum]

EVR said:

Why are you guys considering something else than the Bridgestone Potenza? They're not very good?

I think the consensus of opinion is that tyre technology has moved on. Contact 6 or Michelin Pilot Sport 4S seem to be tops.

Search for all threads on PS4S tyres and you'll get the jist.

[Johnny42]

rovcallum said:

I think the consensus of opinion is that tyre technology has moved on....

Agreed, I didn't intend to be unfair to Bridgestone with my earlier post. The standard fit Potenza is a design that is at least 15 years old. I don't think it has changed over the years? (Although I could be mistaken, they went up slightly in size so there could have been some development work.) Tyre manufacturers seem to come out with a significantly improved tyre every 4-5 years or so. So a modern tyre is 3 or 4 generations ahead.

[rovcallum]

I still have Bridgestones on the rear - 2013 vintage. Rubber is very hard compared to the 6 month old 235 PS4S on the front.
At the moment, any damp road and it's like driving on ice. Way too easy to spin up the back wheels.

Got a pair of 275 PS4S rears coming next week and it did cross my mind that I might also be a bit unkind to the Bridgestones.
Once I read & watched various reviews, it quickly becomes apparent that Bridgestones are not even in the top 3 any more.

[Johnny42]

My Bridgestones started getting noticeably hard when they were only 3 years old. There was a fair bit of tread left, but lots of cracks appearing. And the rear was just too easy to spin up in the damp in 2nd and maybe 3rd in the end. When the tyres were new, the rear would hook up in the damp in 1st gear. So I was disappointed with the life in this respect. And the car must have had the same deficiency under braking, so considerably less safe.
Of course I have no idea what the Michelins will be like when they are 3-4 years old.

[bogie]

Im running Yokohama Advan Sport, much better than the Bridgestones in wet and ride better in the dry, so there are a few other choices available now in correct sizes for standard and "S" sized wheels.