I know you hate PAX, but...

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:36 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Update on the new Michelins -- Well, after reading the C&D/Tire Rack tire tests where the Pilot Super Sport soundly beat the Dunlop Star Spec in the dry autocross (and seriously beat it in the wet) and it was only 2/10ths behind the AD-08 dry autox winner, I suppose Michelin has actually created one serious tire. I love driving these things as they are very predictable, stick like glue, wear long (treadwear rating 300), are quiet and have much less NVH compared to Star Specs.

Price comparison?

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:38 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Update on the new Michelins -- Well, after reading the C&D/Tire Rack tire tests where the Pilot Super Sport soundly beat the Dunlop Star Spec in the dry autocross (and seriously beat it in the wet) and it was only 2/10ths behind the AD-08 dry autox winner, I suppose Michelin has actually created one serious tire. I love driving these things as they are very predictable, stick like glue, wear long (treadwear rating 300), are quiet and have much less NVH compared to Star Specs.

Price comparison?

The PSS are 10% ish more than the star spec and almost 40% more than the RS3. Probably less expensive than the AD08 though.

All the while being 300 treadwear.....I swear, treadwear ratings are the biggest load of crap.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:49 am

The Super Sports and Star Specs are the same price in the size we're using: 255/35-18 (at TireRack, $259).

I agree that the treadwear rating is total BS and likely manipulated greatly. In Michelin's defense of their 300 rating though, these things are standing up great and they have a 30,000 treadwear warranty too (for what that's worth -- perhaps we'll find out at some point).

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:03 am

The problem with a high TW tire is that it's going to heat cycle out long before it wears out. Might not be an issue with a heavier car but I'm done with a set of tires long before they make it to the wear bars. I'll usually still run em down more because I'm cheap but they get noticeably worse. (Azenis and Star Specs so far)

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:32 am

JamesMilko wrote:

The problem with a high TW tire is that it's going to heat cycle out long before it wears out. Might not be an issue with a heavier car but I'm done with a set of tires long before they make it to the wear bars. I'll usually still run em down more because I'm cheap but they get noticeably worse. (Azenis and Star Specs so far)

That's a good point. Star specs are definitely dropping off during the last 4/32s of tread.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:50 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Update on the new Michelins -- Well, after reading the C&D/Tire Rack tire tests where the Pilot Super Sport soundly beat the Dunlop Star Spec in the dry autocross (and seriously beat it in the wet) and it was only 2/10ths behind the AD-08 dry autox winner, I suppose Michelin has actually created one serious tire. I love driving these things as they are very predictable, stick like glue, wear long (treadwear rating 300), are quiet and have much less NVH compared to Star Specs.

Price comparison?

VK, they are pricey, but more importantly, they actually make a wide tire that will fit your car.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:46 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

VK, they are pricey, but more importantly, they actually make a wide tire that will fit your car.

I was thinking Lemons Prelude, not Mustang.

One of the reason I bought Nitto NT-01s for the Mustang was a set of good street tires was almost the same price.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

JamesShort wrote:

All the while being 300 treadwear.....I swear, treadwear ratings are the biggest load of crap.

You realize there is absolutely no overall standard for treadwear ratings they are almost completely arbitrary.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:40 pm

Les Davis wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

All the while being 300 treadwear.....I swear, treadwear ratings are the biggest load of crap.

You realize there is absolutely no overall standard for treadwear ratings they are almost completely arbitrary.

Yep.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:43 pm

Les Davis wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

All the while being 300 treadwear.....I swear, treadwear ratings are the biggest load of crap.

You realize there is absolutely no overall standard for treadwear ratings they are almost completely arbitrary.

There is a standard, it just has a bit of "wiggle room"

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:06 pm

(1) Les you need to try some road racing..........

(2) Star Specs suck in the rain. They were like driving on ice at Daytona.

(3) Treadware may be arbitrary but when you race in a series that has a minimum rating of 200TW... well, 300TW sounds awesome.

(4) Minis and Miatas should be the only cars allowed to AutoX. Unless of course you can produce a MG or Triumph product. OK, maybe a 2002 or the like. :wink:

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:19 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Well, after reading the C&D/Tire Rack tire tests where the Pilot Super Sport soundly beat the Dunlop Star Spec in the dry autocross (and seriously beat it in the wet) and it was only 2/10ths behind the AD-08 dry autox winner, I suppose Michelin has actually created one serious tire. I love driving these things as they are very predictable, stick like glue, wear long (treadwear rating 300), are quiet and have much less NVH compared to Star Specs.

Test data:
Dry autocross AD-08 59.7, Pilot Super Sport 59.9, Star Spec 60.2, Hankook R-S3 60.3.

Anyone have a link to the C&D/Tire Rack tire test Chuck referenced above? I'd like to read it but don't get C&D and didn't find it on Tire Rack's website.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:49 pm

http://www.sendspace.com/file/epwy57

Not my link -- found it on a forum.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:44 pm

Thanks for the link, Chuck, but I couldn't use it as it requires you to download software that forces installation of the company's toolbar and other "goodies" in your default web browser.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:30 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Thanks for the link, Chuck, but I couldn't use it as it requires you to download software that forces installation of the company's toolbar and other "goodies" in your default web browser.

Weird? I'm using FF with all kinds of add-ons enabled like AdBlock+, LSO cookie blockers, etc, etc, and I saw no issues like that. It just downloaded without a problem. I did just try it again on my laptop, and it appears FF is blocking a popup or something. Anyway, I'll have it saved in a minute and can e-mail it to you. What's your email address?

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