Recommended Performance Summer Tire?

[db12]

Need to get new tires for the summer and the Continetals I had before were extremely noisy after initial treadware. Can anyone recommend a decent tire you have had that doesnt isnt crazy loud after 10K miles?

Thanks!

[TMurt]

Plenty of threads on this to search for. Typically Michelin Pilot Super Sports are well received and warrantied for 30k miles.

[b8audis4]

Pilot Super Sports, best summer tire all around, and for the money, unless you want to step up to something crazy like the Pilot Sport Cup 2, which perform not as well in the rain.

[Motown_Dub]

Pilot Super Sports

[LINDW4LL]

Pilot Super Sports are my go to.

The Bridgestone S04 is another great choice that's a bit cheaper.

[MrFunk]

What those dukes said... ^^

[dizzlesizzle]

for the price the hankook ventus V12's.

[Ze_Nardo6]

Continental DW...very similar performance to the PSS tires for a bit less money. My good buddy has been in the tire industry for over a decade and can attest to that. I know many of the guys running the PSS will call bullshit, but I bet they haven't given the Continental's a try...I've run multiple sets of both and the performance is about identical.

[pdqgp]

Pilot Super Sports

^^ this. /thread.

[Jv218]

Toyo proxy tr1 sport


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sacandagaD]

Two summers on S-04's and very satisfied so far. If you are not concerned about them being slightly heavier, it has a good price point versus PSS.

[Lamprey]

Continental DW...very similar performance to the PSS tires for a bit less money. My good buddy has been in the tire industry for over a decade and can attest to that. I know many of the guys running the PSS will call bullshit, but I bet they haven't given the Continental's a try...I've run multiple sets of both and the performance is about identical.

Unfortunately, the ones that come stock are such shit it's left me such a sour taste that I don't want to touch a Continental tire ever again. Which is probably unfortunate as people seem to like the DW's. So, I run PSSs in the summer and PA4s in the winter.

[Vogz]

Two summers on S-04's and very satisfied so far. If you are not concerned about them being slightly heavier, it has a good price point versus PSS.

This. I saw no reason to spend the extra $$ on tires that are only marginally better on my daily driver. If I was doing track days all the time, it might be a different story.

[windowguy]

I just read in the latest issue of Consumer Reports that the Pirelli P Zero was in 1st place and the Michelin PSS was in 2nd place in the ultra high performance category.

I have about 10k kms on my PSS and have no complaints other than the price.

Rob.

[jl87]

Unfortunately, the ones that come stock are such shit it's left me such a sour taste that I don't want to touch a Continental tire ever again. Which is probably unfortunate as people seem to like the DW's. So, I run PSSs in the summer and PA4s in the winter.

I'm with you on this. My stock Conti's were shot in <10k. The price on the DW's is good, but I'm hesitant due to my first experience with them. I do only plan on having the car 2-3 more summers before I trade in, so I may give them another shot to save some $$.

[Race Shooter]

Continental DW...very similar performance to the PSS tires for a bit less money. My good buddy has been in the tire industry for over a decade and can attest to that. I know many of the guys running the PSS will call bullshit, but I bet they haven't given the Continental's a try...I've run multiple sets of both and the performance is about identical.

I'll second this. I had the DW previously and now have the PSS to see what all the fuss is about.

Ultimately I'd say the PSS may be slightly better, but not worth the extra money. The DW wore a bit better as well.

I will replace the PSS with the Conti DW when its time.

[phanker]

How's the noise level between the 2?

I'll second this. I had the DW previously and now have the PSS to see what all the fuss is about.

Ultimately I'd say the PSS may be slightly better, but not worth the extra money. The DW wore a bit better as well.

I will replace the PSS with the Conti DW when its time.

[Dominick's S4]

Pilot Super Sports

[Starman2112]

I just read in the latest issue of Consumer Reports that the Pirelli P Zero was in 1st place and the Michelin PSS was in 2nd place in the ultra high performance category.

My S4 came CPO with P zeros, I much prefer the PSS. Price, road noise, and ride quality being things that IMO are better with PSS.

[SouthernBoy]

My 2016 S4 came standard with Pirelli Cinturato P7 summer tires and I have to admit, they are an excellent choice for an ultra-high performance summer tire. After 4000 miles, they are as quiet as the day I took delivery of the car. Grip is superb, steering response is very good, tracking is excellent, and the ride is very nice.

[amz]

For a dedicated all-around summer tire, Michelin Pilot Super Sports. You can find tires that are better in the dry but sacrifice wet-weather performance, and vice-versa tires that perform better in the wet but not as well in the dry.

For reference, here is some AutoX in a rain storm (with about 1/2cm of water on the track) on Michelin Pilot Supersports. I am actively trying to get some slides in but it was a real challenge haha. At the end is a ~100km/h-10km/h ABS stop, I should have used threshold braking but with people all around the stopbox I needed to stay in a straight line (aka, I could have stopped sooner...) There was another A4 on the track on all-seasons I forget which), they couldn't push nearly as hard, though it was really fun to slide around the course. We had a corvette on PSS's, but in typical corvette fashion he pirouetted around the course a few times (until water made its way into the intake and the car decided to not start, something about hydrolock protection?) Anyways, there's lots of anecdotal testimony, here is my video testimony to the PSS:


Some of the Porsche guys went out and bought PSS tires after seeing/experiencing how well they preformed in the rain. They had an assortment of tires on each vehicle but were sliding all around and hitting the brakes almost immediately resulted in hydroplaning & ABS kicking in. It was kind of funny.

edit: had some coffee, improved the wording and actually related the story to OP's question.

[Rez90]

I run S-04's. No complaints.

[administerturbo]

I just went through this internal debate. In the end, I went with the Pilot Super Sports. Discount Tire had a $100 visa card rebate and free shipping. Coupled with the 30,000 mile tread life warranty vs. the heavier S-04 with no tread life warranty it came out to be a $100 difference. Plus, the super sports are supposed to be a little more efficient. Overall, it should all be even price wise.

Have not driven the super sports yet since it's winter, so I can't comment on performance.

[XLR8 Craig]

Michelin Pilot Super Sports or the Bridgestone S-04 are my recommendation.

[RWD2quattro]

RE-11

[phanker]

Debating between PSS & DW myself with a lean toward the PSS.
Based on Tirerack, seems the DW's sidewall is much softer. Makes for a more comfy ride but sloppier in handling and steering response.

[LINDW4LL]

Debating between PSS & DW myself with a lean toward the PSS.
Based on Tirerack, seems the DW's sidewall is much softer. Makes for a more comfy ride but sloppier in handling and steering response.

Correct. The DW seem to be quite a bit softer than both the S04 and PSS and is a step below the other two, IMO.

[db12]

Anyone know why there are two versions of the Michelin Pilot Super Sports? I can not see any difference in the model number / speed rating etc all identicle yet one is $235 and the other $253? Same treadlife etc.

[administerturbo]

One is probably the XL version. I think the S4 technically requires an XL tire, although I'd imagine the regular version would ride better. Not a huge fan of XL tires, but went with it on the PSS's anyway hoping Michelin does a better job with them.

[amz]

One is probably the XL version. I think the S4 technically requires an XL tire, although I'd imagine the regular version would ride better. Not a huge fan of XL tires, but went with it on the PSS's anyway hoping Michelin does a better job with them.

I didn't know what an XL tire was, so I found this: http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/miles-...at-should-i-do

...
The "XL" tire will change the perception and feel of the vehicle. Tires that are engineered with reinforced sidewalls typically fall into the performance tire category. These tires have a rubber compound formulated to accentuate performance but not necessarily detract from the ride quality.

A driver should consider XL tire options when plus sizing any wheel packages or if more feedback from the tire is desired. Drivers seeking a firmer ride and enhanced car control would not need to be concerned with the XL warning when comparing different tires to match their driving expectations. As a matter of fact, this type tire will enhance the overall vehicle stability and handling. Also, the selection of a more aggressive tread compound will increase grip in the wet and dry. ...

[AerotusX]

I just went through this internal debate. In the end, I went with the Pilot Super Sports. Discount Tire had a $100 visa card rebate and free shipping. Coupled with the 30,000 mile tread life warranty vs. the heavier S-04 with no tread life warranty it came out to be a $100 difference. Plus, the super sports are supposed to be a little more efficient. Overall, it should all be even price wise.

Exact same train of thought here. When I was about to replace the OEM "cheap" Conti's (after 12K), I was about to go with S-04 for lower price; but evaluated the rebate + 30K warranty, I went with PSS with no regrets. I took it out on track day and it performed wonderfully. Really good feel and feedback when pushing to the limit.

[roadawg]

PSS are insanely good. Not the cheapest but you get what you pay for.