The definitive Vantage tyre thread.

[LTP]

jon- said:

Sadly what the OEs get upto is a bit of a secret. With Cadillac being a US specific brand they might have traded some wet grip for better tread life, but this is pure speculation. Only Michelin will be able to answer!

Michelin does not appear to offer the PS4S 245/40 ZR19 as available from dealers or on line in the UK (I tried playing with their website and pretending I wanted to buy some) and weirdly nor could I find this size listed as fitting the Cadillac ATS-V as they appear to specify 18" wheels. The ATS-V is apparently only available in LHD, even through the one UK dealer prepared to supply. So this tyre listing may be a mirage.

[AdamV12V]

Why don't you put 235/40 ZR19's on then... that's a recommended size for a V8V also isn't it and they do the PS4S in that size....

[LTP]

AdamV12V said:

Why don't you put 235/40 ZR19's on then... that's a recommended size for a V8V also isn't it and they do the PS4S in that size....

Because the ‘S’ increased tyre size was accompanied with a corresponding increase in rim width. I will agree that the 235/40 is within the permitted range of the wider rim, as detailed by another poster elsewhere in this thread.

And another reason is that it would no longer be the OE recommended tyre fitment on my particular car, and I’m not about to give anyone like an insurance company the ability to point out that the car was modified from standard and so the insurance is invalid. Paranoid? Possibly. But that’s why I now have OE-sized ContactSport 6’s fitted (and yes, I did inform my insurance company)

[Nbgring]

I think it is not an option to mix sizes such that you combine the small old size 235/40 ZR19 with the wider new rear 285/35 ZR19. That would impact the balance of the car and create understeer.
Therefore I would clearly recommend the ContactSport 6. 245/40 ZR 19 (98Y) XL and 285/35 ZR 19 (103Y) XL
With respect to the Cadillac ATS-V: I believe those tyres 245/40 ZR19 94Y TPC ZP are zero pressure (run flat) tyres. That would result in a relatively harsh ride and the performance would not match the rear tyres in 285/35 ZR 19 (103Y) XL. So the Cadillac tyres are not recommended.
Only the Michelin enthusiasts in the US are happy, because they can buy local Pilot Sport 4S tyres 245/40ZR19/XL (98Y) 25373 and 285/35ZR19/XL (103Y) 79871 which are reported to even have proper EU labels.

[GT3hopeful]

GT3hopeful said:

Both19 inch sizes for Michelin PS4S are now listed on uk site as available?
Put Conti 6 on my last Vantage and can’t put up with Bridgestone on my recently purchased 2 year old roadster so will be swapping even though only 2,500 miles on clock. Conti made big difference to ride quality and feel on my last car (probably doesn’t help that AM fit two year old Bridgestones to cars when new?).
Now will have to choose between Contis and Michelin’s - has anyone compared them?

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tyres/michelin-pil...

Sorry to raise hopes but yes looks like this is a run flat tyre so not the answer for UK - will be fitting Conti Sport 6 then which at least I know are good option and stopped me spending money on variable dampers on last vantage

[LTP]

Nbgring said:

Only the Michelin enthusiasts in the US are happy, because they can buy local Pilot Sport 4S tyres 245/40ZR19/XL (98Y) 25373 and 285/35ZR19/XL (103Y) 79871 which are reported to even have proper EU labels.

According to information sent to me by Michelin, the US tyres are not EU approved. See my post on Page 6 of this thread

[Nbgring]

telum01 said:

They have ECE codes, which means they have been approved for use in the EU.

I am quite sure that someone on here confirmed that these US-manufactured 245/40-19 tyres carry a french E2 type approval.
So Michelin France has done the approval process for the US affiliate.
Can someone from the US please confirm?
I also remember that based on this information some guys considered to import a couple of these tyres on their own cost.

[LTP]

Nbgring said:

I am quite sure that someone on here confirmed that these US-manufactured 245/40-19 tyres carry a french E2 type approval.
So Michelin France has done the approval process for the US affiliate.
Can someone from the US please confirm?

If anyone does confirm, ideally you'll post the complete EU number off the tyre (and it's the 245/40 ZR19 we are interested in). To help, the details of the EU marking are below

[Nbgring]

A picture of the sidewall would be perfect:
(This is an older PSS tyre)


The bold five digit numbers should be the internal Michelin tyre code:
245/40ZR19/XL (98Y) 25373 and 285/35ZR19/XL (103Y) 79871
Any of the US-friends here with a V8V and Michelin PS4S who could make a picture of his front tyre?

Edited by Nbgring on Friday 1st January 19:00

[drt30]

I've read every post on this thread and am still bamboozled over tyre choice. I hate to ask directly, but, what is the ideal choice for my 2009 V8V standard 19" alloys, in the UK? It's been on OE Bridgestones it's entire life so far, but needs all 4 doing this month. Thanks in advance.

[LTP]

drt30 said:

I've read every post on this thread and am still bamboozled over tyre choice. I hate to ask directly, but, what is the ideal choice for my 2009 V8V standard 19" alloys, in the UK? It's been on OE Bridgestones it's entire life so far, but needs all 4 doing this month. Thanks in advance.

Sorry, but it depends where you are and your standard tyre size.

If you're in the EU

• and your front tyres are 235/40 ZR19 then the answer appears to be Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (rears will be 275/35)
• and your front tyres are 245/40 ZR19 then the answer appears to be Continental ContactSport 6's (rears will be 285/35)

If you're in the USA then allegedly you can get either options above in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, so apparently that's the choice.

[vernierMike]

LTP said:

Sorry, but it depends where you are and your standard tyre size.

If you're in the EU

• and your front tyres are 235/40 ZR19 then the answer appears to be Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (rears will be 275/35)
• and your front tyres are 245/40 ZR19 then the answer appears to be Continental ContactSport 6's (rears will be 285/35)

If you're in the USA then allegedly you can get either options above in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, so apparently that's the choice.

I'd say this is a definitive Vantage tyre thread.... as long as you have an 09, which I do!

[drt30]

Fantastic thank you. Yes, UK based, 275/35 rear and 235/40 front. So I'll be after the ps4s's. Local garage has £100 off full set of michelins at the moment. Cheers again
Dave

[LTP]

drt30 said:

Fantastic thank you. Yes, UK based, 275/35 rear and 235/40 front. So I'll be after the ps4s's. Local garage has £100 off full set of michelins at the moment. Cheers again
Dave

When you have them fitted and have done a couple of hundred miles to bed everything in and scrub off the release agent I’d be interested in your impressions vs the Bridgestones

[drt30]

LTP said:

drt30 said:

Fantastic thank you. Yes, UK based, 275/35 rear and 235/40 front. So I'll be after the ps4s's. Local garage has £100 off full set of michelins at the moment. Cheers again
Dave

When you have them fitted and have done a couple of hundred miles to bed everything in and scrub off the release agent I’d be interested in your impressions vs the Bridgestones

Of course. I'll report back in the next few weeks.

[BiggaJ]

LTP said:

drt30 said:

Fantastic thank you. Yes, UK based, 275/35 rear and 235/40 front. So I'll be after the ps4s's. Local garage has £100 off full set of Michelins at the moment. Cheers again
Dave

When you have them fitted and have done a couple of hundred miles to bed everything in and scrub off the release agent I’d be interested in your impressions vs the Bridgestone's

LTP: My car being a 2009 model year. I've had my PS4S fitted for a little over 2 months now and put around 600 miles on them. My comparison between these and the former Bridgestone's given that 3 of the 4 Bridgestone's still had the coloured dots on the outer walls showing they were not that old (as these usually get washed off quite quickly) and they had plenty of tread on all 4.

Are the Michelins night and day different? when set to the correct pressure (mine were fitted and set far too high), they are more compliant, more forgiving of jolts, expansion joints etc. From a grip perspective in the dry I dont notice a difference however, in the damp/wet conditions this is where they really shine over the Potenza's. In the damp, I could come off a roundabout and give the car a little more throttle input than was required and have the back end stepping out very easily, they would lose traction very quickly and in the wet I never felt they were confidence inspiring.

Compare this to what I have now with properly scrubbed in PS4S and this is where the night and day change is felt/noticed. Yes I can get the Michelins to lose traction but it takes a lot more to do this and driving in the wet the car feels more planted, more settled.

Its a more pleasant car to drive than it ever was on the RE050's.

Edited by BiggaJ on Wednesday 19th May 10:35

[Froomee]

I am looking at swapping out my tyres and have seen the discussion regarding tyre sizes being unavailable for 245/40/19 fronts in PS4S.

I have seen PS4’s available and Continental 6’s which would people recommend of the two?

From my previous experience with Continentals they wear quicker than Michelin’s.

[LTP]

Froomee said:

I have seen PS4’s available and Continental 6’s which would people recommend of the two?

From my previous experience with Continentals they wear quicker than Michelin’s.

I don't think you can get the matching 285/35 ZR19 for the rears in PS4 and Michelin don't recommend mixing PS4 and PS4S

Edited by LTP on Friday 21st May 14:02

[DAMIT]

LTP said:

Michelin don't recommend mixing PS4 and PS4S

I could understand having PS4S on the front and PS4 on the rear might be an issue.

But PS4 on the front and PS4S on the rear should not be a problem, unless I'm missing something.

[bogie]

The question on mixing tyres has come up before and someone checked with Michelin. They dont recommend mixing tyres. Its a tricky one, if you have an accident you now have non OEM approved tyres in 2 different specs on the car that is not recommend by the car or tyre manufacturer. Could be an excuse for the insurer to reduce any payout.

Last time I changed tyres and needed the bigger sizes I couldn't get Contis in time from my local tyre place and went with Yokohama Advan Sport and Im more than happy with them (I have run them before on other cars). They are the premium sports tyre from Japan, offer more performance than im utilising on the road, and based on previous car usage they wear better than Contis.