Tyre Recommendations for V8V SP10?
Discussion
I'll soon be needing to replace all four tyres on my '14 V8V SP10, but I'm not sure which tyres to go for. I definitely want to come away from the standard-fit Bridgestones as they're frankly dreadful. Very hard ride, not particularly responsive, little steering feel and physically heavy.
My first thought had been to switch to either Michelin PS4-S or SuperSport, but whilst rears are listed in the correct size (285/35 x 19) there is no listing for the size required for the fronts on my car (245/40 x 19). The opposite is true of the standard Michelin PS4 - the front size is listed, but not the rears!
Mike at BR has suggested mixing PS4 on the front with PS4-S on the rear, but I'm always a little wary of using different types of tyre F/R. Has anyone used this combination? If so, how does the car drive? I'd assume the balance of the car would move more towards understeer when using what is, effectively, a lower-spec tyre on the front of the car?
Other than the Michelins, can anyone recommend a different alternative? The car is only used on the road, but is driven 'enthusiastically' (where appropriate)!
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice you may have.
My first thought had been to switch to either Michelin PS4-S or SuperSport, but whilst rears are listed in the correct size (285/35 x 19) there is no listing for the size required for the fronts on my car (245/40 x 19). The opposite is true of the standard Michelin PS4 - the front size is listed, but not the rears!
Mike at BR has suggested mixing PS4 on the front with PS4-S on the rear, but I'm always a little wary of using different types of tyre F/R. Has anyone used this combination? If so, how does the car drive? I'd assume the balance of the car would move more towards understeer when using what is, effectively, a lower-spec tyre on the front of the car?
Other than the Michelins, can anyone recommend a different alternative? The car is only used on the road, but is driven 'enthusiastically' (where appropriate)!
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice you may have.
Ian_UK1 said:
My first thought had been to switch to either Michelin PS4-S or SuperSport, but whilst rears are listed in the correct size (285/35 x 19) there is no listing for the size required for the fronts on my car (245/40 x 19). The opposite is true of the standard Michelin PS4 - the front size is listed, but not the rears!
Mike at BR has suggested mixing PS4 on the front with PS4-S on the rear, but I'm always a little wary of using different types of tyre F/R. Has anyone used this combination? If so, how does the car drive? I'd assume the balance of the car would move more towards understeer when using what is, effectively, a lower-spec tyre on the front of the car?
Do you mean PSS on the front and PS4S on the rear?Mike at BR has suggested mixing PS4 on the front with PS4-S on the rear, but I'm always a little wary of using different types of tyre F/R. Has anyone used this combination? If so, how does the car drive? I'd assume the balance of the car would move more towards understeer when using what is, effectively, a lower-spec tyre on the front of the car?
My main concern with mixing the front vs rear tires is that they're going to have different driving characteristics. The PS4S is a much better tire when cold, so it'll get traction much more quickly than the PSS. I'd assume, based on that difference, you'll be dealing with understeer until the PSS tires in front heat up. When the mixing topic came up a while back I'd urged caution and a bunch of people jumped down my throat for it, so I'm sure you'll be told it's just fine. But I wouldn't recommend it because it can lead to unpredictable driving characteristics when the tires aren't all warmed up.
For what it's worth, the MPS4S is available in the sizes you need. It may just be a regional availability issue.
I've been pondering this one too Ian as I also can't see V8S sizes of PS4S in the UK. They do however do V12V sizes (255/35 & 295/30) so this might be an option although V12 rims are a bit wider so not totally sure these would sit OK on the V8S rims. Anyone tried this or know for sure?
I was about to ask a very similar question as it goes.
After the Corsas on my V12 trying to throw me off the horse twice this week, it's time to replace all four shoes and at least try to live a little longer. Pisses me off though, the tyres probably still have 10k left in them so I'm loathed to swap them, but it's cheaper than stacking it I guess.
Pete - Are you saying that the PS4S are available for the F&R on standard V12 rims now, I thought I was reading recently that they weren't......maybe I just can't read..!
FWIW I'm not a fan of mixing tyres in any guise. Also, this is a curve ball but what would an insurer stay if you binned it and they saw what would effectively be odd tyres ? Maybe they don't care, but that's the kind of thing that worries me. We all know how they look for any excuse not to payout.
After the Corsas on my V12 trying to throw me off the horse twice this week, it's time to replace all four shoes and at least try to live a little longer. Pisses me off though, the tyres probably still have 10k left in them so I'm loathed to swap them, but it's cheaper than stacking it I guess.
Pete - Are you saying that the PS4S are available for the F&R on standard V12 rims now, I thought I was reading recently that they weren't......maybe I just can't read..!
FWIW I'm not a fan of mixing tyres in any guise. Also, this is a curve ball but what would an insurer stay if you binned it and they saw what would effectively be odd tyres ? Maybe they don't care, but that's the kind of thing that worries me. We all know how they look for any excuse not to payout.
telum01 said:
Do you mean PSS on the front and PS4S on the rear?
My main concern with mixing the front vs rear tires is that they're going to have different driving characteristics. The PS4S is a much better tire when cold, so it'll get traction much more quickly than the PSS. I'd assume, based on that difference, you'll be dealing with understeer until the PSS tires in front heat up. When the mixing topic came up a while back I'd urged caution and a bunch of people jumped down my throat for it, so I'm sure you'll be told it's just fine. But I wouldn't recommend it because it can lead to unpredictable driving characteristics when the tires aren't all warmed up.
For what it's worth, the MPS4S is available in the sizes you need. It may just be a regional availability issue.
Mike's suggestion was PS4 on the front and PS4-S on the rear as PS4-S aren't available in 245/40 x 19 (according to Michelin's UK site here):My main concern with mixing the front vs rear tires is that they're going to have different driving characteristics. The PS4S is a much better tire when cold, so it'll get traction much more quickly than the PSS. I'd assume, based on that difference, you'll be dealing with understeer until the PSS tires in front heat up. When the mixing topic came up a while back I'd urged caution and a bunch of people jumped down my throat for it, so I'm sure you'll be told it's just fine. But I wouldn't recommend it because it can lead to unpredictable driving characteristics when the tires aren't all warmed up.
For what it's worth, the MPS4S is available in the sizes you need. It may just be a regional availability issue.
http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/michelin-pilot-spo...
V8V Pete said:
I've been pondering this one too Ian as I also can't see V8S sizes of PS4S in the UK. They do however do V12V sizes (255/35 & 295/30) so this might be an option although V12 rims are a bit wider so not totally sure these would sit OK on the V8S rims. Anyone tried this or know for sure?
Interesting idea - changing the wheels for V12 items. I guess if the offsets work OK on the V8 hubs, then it should work. The front might be a little over-tyred though, as the V8 motor is quite a lot lighter than the V12. Downside is it would make the cost of changing tyres a little high!!Ian_UK1 said:
Looking through Camskill's listings, Continental Sport Contact 6 is available in both the sizes needed for the SP10, but I've never used Contis before. Any ideas how they might compare to the Michelins?
Probably last less than half the life of the Michelins, and go off with more tread depth left. At least that was the case for me. If you can get MPS4S all round then jobs a goodun, if not I would MPS4S the back and MPS4 the front. MPS4 is supposedly better than the MPSS in any case. I am currently running MPSS front and MPS4S rear on my 800+bhp VXR8 with no issues.Big Ry said:
FWIW I'm not a fan of mixing tyres in any guise. Also, this is a curve ball but what would an insurer stay if you binned it and they saw what would effectively be odd tyres ? Maybe they don't care, but that's the kind of thing that worries me. We all know how they look for any excuse not to payout.
Very good point. As you say, they probably wouldn't profess to give a damn - unless there was a claim, then suddenly it would be a major issue. alscar said:
Cannot help on the SP10 question ( I didn't have mine long enough to change tyres although tbh never had a problem with the Bridgestones ).
Big Ry , I have " just " P zeros on my V12S and no complaints over last 2 years.
I just don't seem to get any real grip with them. The second it's either a little damp on the roads or it's chilly I feel like I'm in a rodeo. Now I know these cars have serious power so spinning cold tyres etc is always going to be the case regardless what they are, but I guess I've just lost confidence in them and as a result i'm driving Miss Daisy at the moment.Big Ry , I have " just " P zeros on my V12S and no complaints over last 2 years.
Basically i'm not confident in using the right foot unless it's bone dry and the tyres have been on a good run already to get a little heat in them (sound like Lewis Hamilton don't I
), and as a result I'd like something that had a bit more all-weather grip really.I could be talking complete b
ks of course and somebody may be able to school me..............alscar said:
Big Ry , you know that corsas and p zeros are different tyres don't you.
P zeros will help u avoid but not totally eradicate your corsa problem.
Yep, worked out what you were saying straight after I posted. I originally thought you were saying that you didn't see the issue with them, then when I actually re-read it I got what you were saying and were indeed talking about different tyres......that's what speed reading does for you..!P zeros will help u avoid but not totally eradicate your corsa problem.
Thought I'd leave the post as it kind of explained my thought process anyway.
Ian_UK1 said:
V8V Pete said:
I've been pondering this one too Ian as I also can't see V8S sizes of PS4S in the UK. They do however do V12V sizes (255/35 & 295/30) so this might be an option although V12 rims are a bit wider so not totally sure these would sit OK on the V8S rims. Anyone tried this or know for sure?
Interesting idea - changing the wheels for V12 items. I guess if the offsets work OK on the V8 hubs, then it should work. The front might be a little over-tyred though, as the V8 motor is quite a lot lighter than the V12. Downside is it would make the cost of changing tyres a little high!!Ian_UK1 said:
Mike's suggestion was PS4 on the front and PS4-S on the rear as PS4-S aren't available in 245/40 x 19 (according to Michelin's UK site here):
http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/michelin-pilot-spo...
Ahhh I don't think we get those in the US. I've only seen the PS4S here, not the standard PS4.http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/michelin-pilot-spo...
Following-on from my initial enquiry above, I contacted Michelin a few days ago to confirm, once and for all, if they do or don't make a matching set of performance tyres in 245/40x19 and 285/35x19.
The customer services adviser confirmed at the time that Michelin doesn't manufacture PS4-S in 245/40x19. However, according to their internal database, the PSS should have been available in both the required sizes. This would have done me nicely, as the PSS is a superb tyre.
However, the info on Michelin's website disagreed with their internal database as it showed the PSS as also being unavailable in 245/40x19. It now turns-out the website was right - I received the following email from Michelin this afternoon:
So Michelin doesn't make any of their current performance tyres in a matching set for Vantage S. Great! However.........
I contacted Mike at BR again and asked him for clarification on mixing PS4 on the front of the car with PS4-S on the back. His reply was as follows:
"..... The water channels are virtually the same, the available grip from cold is more than a driver will push in reality. Logically, it’s not as if front axle and rear axle handle identically anyway, (different weight balance, driving vs. non-driven wheels and rear is going through a LSD) so a slight change in compound between each axle will effect what exactly? ....."
He also went on to say:
"..... Also, considering the suspension on your car, [Sportpack] the 4-S compound will work very well on the rear, will have excellent high speed tendency for a little rear end oversteer, which is exactly what the vantage needs to overcome its front end understeer. The DSC will always catch anything in background, so it’s all risk free / irrelevant worries anyway..... "
To me, Mike's logic makes a lot of sense: different axles, different requirements. Mike also stated to me that this combination drives really well ('Ace' was the word he used) and is arguably the best option currently available for Vantage. I tend to trust Mike's judgement, so I'm going to go with BR's recommendation - PS4 front, PS4-S rear. Will report back in a couple of weeks once the tyres are on the car and bedded-in.
The customer services adviser confirmed at the time that Michelin doesn't manufacture PS4-S in 245/40x19. However, according to their internal database, the PSS should have been available in both the required sizes. This would have done me nicely, as the PSS is a superb tyre.
However, the info on Michelin's website disagreed with their internal database as it showed the PSS as also being unavailable in 245/40x19. It now turns-out the website was right - I received the following email from Michelin this afternoon:
So Michelin doesn't make any of their current performance tyres in a matching set for Vantage S. Great! However.........
I contacted Mike at BR again and asked him for clarification on mixing PS4 on the front of the car with PS4-S on the back. His reply was as follows:
"..... The water channels are virtually the same, the available grip from cold is more than a driver will push in reality. Logically, it’s not as if front axle and rear axle handle identically anyway, (different weight balance, driving vs. non-driven wheels and rear is going through a LSD) so a slight change in compound between each axle will effect what exactly? ....."
He also went on to say:
"..... Also, considering the suspension on your car, [Sportpack] the 4-S compound will work very well on the rear, will have excellent high speed tendency for a little rear end oversteer, which is exactly what the vantage needs to overcome its front end understeer. The DSC will always catch anything in background, so it’s all risk free / irrelevant worries anyway..... "
To me, Mike's logic makes a lot of sense: different axles, different requirements. Mike also stated to me that this combination drives really well ('Ace' was the word he used) and is arguably the best option currently available for Vantage. I tend to trust Mike's judgement, so I'm going to go with BR's recommendation - PS4 front, PS4-S rear. Will report back in a couple of weeks once the tyres are on the car and bedded-in.
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