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 trackdays (summer and winter, wet & dry) in the UK and on Touristfahrten at the Nordschliefe.

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