Changing to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Discussion
My tyres are due to be changed and I'm thinking of switching from Pirelli PZERO which have been on the car from new to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S given the amount of rave reviews from owners. However, I have been advised by my local ATS dealer, even though they are exactly the same spec as the Pirelli and in many people's view superior, because they don't have the stamp AM8 on the tyre side wall they could invalidate my insurance!!! Have any of you come across this problem when you have switched to the Michelin tyres? Finally, another quick question, is the wheel alignment readings on the V12 Vantage the same as the V8 Vantage?
Many thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance.
Borgoking said:
... However, I have been advised by my local ATS dealer, even though they are exactly the same spec as the Pirelli and in many people's view superior, because they don't have the stamp AM8 on the tyre side wall they could invalidate my insurance!!! ...
This comment has been mentioned before. I am very sceptical about it.
We hear many car manufacturers promoting the idea, that a tyre manufacturer has specially developed a tyre just for their latest model. Seems to happen repeatedly.
Their 'special version' (could it really be identical?) can be recognised by tyrewall markings, eg. AM; MB etc.
At replacement time, those marked tyres are often more expensive than the 'normal' equivalent.
Funny that. Better profit perhaps?
Probably playing a game.
However, the way to resolve this, is to ask your insurer whether fitting brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, would invalidate your policy.
My bet is that it would not, but please enquire, because it would be most interesting to resolve this long running question.
If I am wrong, many Aston Martins will need to be taken off the road and laid up. -
Jon39 said:
Borgoking said:
... However, I have been advised by my local ATS dealer, even though they are exactly the same spec as the Pirelli and in many people's view superior, because they don't have the stamp AM8 on the tyre side wall they could invalidate my insurance!!! ...
This comment has been mentioned before. I am very sceptical about it.
We hear many car manufacturers promoting the idea, that a tyre manufacturer has specially developed a tyre just for their latest model. Seems to happen repeatedly.
Their 'special version' (could it really be identical?) can be recognised by tyrewall markings, eg. AM; MB etc.
At replacement time, those marked tyres are often more expensive than the 'normal' equivalent.
Funny that. Better profit perhaps?
Probably playing a game.
However, the way to resolve this, is to ask your insurer whether fitting brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, would invalidate your policy.
My bet is that it would not, but please enquire, because it would be most interesting to resolve this long running question.
If I am wrong, many Aston Martins will need to be taken off the road and laid up. -
Borgoking said:
My tyres are due to be changed and I'm thinking of switching from Pirelli PZERO which have been on the car from new to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S given the amount of rave reviews from owners. However, I have been advised by my local ATS dealer, even though they are exactly the same spec as the Pirelli and in many people's view superior, because they don't have the stamp AM8 on the tyre side wall they could invalidate my insurance!!! Have any of you come across this problem when you have switched to the Michelin tyres? Finally, another quick question, is the wheel alignment readings on the V12 Vantage the same as the V8 Vantage?
Many thanks in advance.
Your tyre dealer has undoubted experience and skill at sourcing and fitting tyres. Many thanks in advance.
Your tyre dealer is not, however, an expert in motor insurance. Nor have they (I assume, albeit with confidence) read your insurance policy.
It has been said in the past that Porsche would junk your extended warranty if you didn’t have Porsche-rated tyres on your Porsche (I’m not at all sure that remains the case though). I hazard a guess that your tyre fitter has picked up some pub knowledge here and there, and added two and two and come up with a dinner plate.
"George Parr, you own a tyre fitting business.
Which tyres would you recommend for my Aston Martin?"
"Yes, I am George Parr and for many years, I have been making good money in the tyre fitting business.
You are very lucky to be asking me now about tyres, because we have an ultra-luxury exclusive offer, for the special Aston Martin tyre.
Normal price £455, but today reduced all the way down to £238.30.
Limited offer though, so you need to order now."
"Thank you George Parr. I won't be needing those extra little AM8 letters embossed on the tyre wall."
Many thanks for your feedback. To be fair to the tyre fitter at ATS, he was giving me information from a friend who owns a Porsche and had a problem with his insurance company whilst making a claim because he didn't have the "N" rated tyres on his car. He was just warning me there might be a problem, it's not as if he was trying to trade me up as the Pirelli AM8 are cheaper than the Michelin Pilot Sports 4S. Anyway, I'm due to have my annual haggle with my insurance company next week as my car insurance is due early next month, so I will take the opportunity to ask the question with them and keep you all posted.
Just on my other question concerning the wheel alignments on V12V being the same as the V8V, has anyone got any knowledge on this subject, I rang my AM Dealership and asked the question but they said they didn't have this information to hand (wouldn't tell me as I believe that sort of information they would know off the top of their head) but suggested I drive 250 miles round trip from deepest Pembrokeshire and they will do the wheel alignment in their workshop!!!
Just on my other question concerning the wheel alignments on V12V being the same as the V8V, has anyone got any knowledge on this subject, I rang my AM Dealership and asked the question but they said they didn't have this information to hand (wouldn't tell me as I believe that sort of information they would know off the top of their head) but suggested I drive 250 miles round trip from deepest Pembrokeshire and they will do the wheel alignment in their workshop!!!
Borgoking said:
<snip>
a friend who owns a Porsche and had a problem with his insurance company whilst making a claim because he didn't have the "N" rated tyres on his car.
Ah, and that would be a problem. I'm 99.9% confident that it's actually illegal in the EU to prevent the registration or use of a car that has a different brand of tyre to that originally fitted by the OEM (the missing 0.1% only because I can't find the regulation that has the requirement) BUT the tyres fitted have to be the same size, speed rating and load rating that the OEM recommends.a friend who owns a Porsche and had a problem with his insurance company whilst making a claim because he didn't have the "N" rated tyres on his car.
Borgoking said:
Many thanks for your feedback. To be fair to the tyre fitter at ATS, he was giving me information from a friend who owns a Porsche and had a problem with his insurance company whilst making a claim because he didn't have the "N" rated tyres on his car.
I’d be prepared to have a modest wager that there is some garbling of the message in the various retellings, and that the claim was under his Porsche extended warranty. Further on the subject of Geo Setting for the V12 Vantage, I've now found out they are different to the V8. I've now been in touch with Supertracker (Straightset) which ATS use to see if they could throw any more light the setting for the V12. They have every AM model of Geo Settings even the ONE 77 but for some reason not the V12 Vantage settings. Clearly the dealership won't disclose them to me so does anyone on here have that information to hand or point me in the right direction!!!
Borgoking said:
Further on the subject of Geo Setting for the V12 Vantage, I've now found out they are different to the V8. I've now been in touch with Supertracker (Straightset) which ATS use to see if they could throw any more light the setting for the V12. They have every AM model of Geo Settings even the ONE 77 but for some reason not the V12 Vantage settings. Clearly the dealership won't disclose them to me so does anyone on here have that information to hand or point me in the right direction!!!
When I went to ATS with my V8V they said they couldn't do the geo as AM wouldn't provide the settings. Went to a local indy tyre shop and specialist, they had all the numbers. Apparently AM are very tight on tolerances. Borgoking said:
Further on the subject of Geo Setting for the V12 Vantage, I've now found out they are different to the V8. I've now been in touch with Supertracker (Straightset) which ATS use to see if they could throw any more light the setting for the V12. They have every AM model of Geo Settings even the ONE 77 but for some reason not the V12 Vantage settings. Clearly the dealership won't disclose them to me so does anyone on here have that information to hand or point me in the right direction!!!
Well of course they are different - many aspects of the 2 cars are very different indeed, weight, wheel sizes, power etc, etc....Anyway, I was not aware the geo settings for a V12V were a secret, but I wouldnt put too much weight in what ADT say - they are comparible to Halfords - hardly experts and very much at the mercy of the person you are speaking to and how much they think they know. Make sure you google pistonheads, Id not be surprised if somebody handn't posted the settings here before.
Have you asked your AM dealer for the settings? I see no reason why they wouldn't send you them if you ask nicely and poleitly off the back of an enquiry. You may find out they arnt as expensive as you think they might be too if you ask them to do it. Lots of hype on here about "the AM Tax", but the reality is, if you ask and engage them openly, some AM dealers are very willing to have a fair and frank discussion with you.
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