Review Car and Driver / Tire Rack Summer Tire Review
08-01-2012 | 09:56 PM
#1
Car and Driver / Tire Rack Summer Tire Review
Monsters of Grip: Nine Summer-Performance Tires Tested - Comparison Test - Car and Driver
SPOILER ALERT: Pilot Super Sports! 
I can personally attest that these tires grip like a glove in the summertime and will make you drive like an idiot!
Even armed with huge horsepower, wind-tunnel development, and a fear-free driver, cars wouldn’t be able to attain big speed without tires capable of handling the inertial forces of 2700-plus rotations per minute. For this test, we gathered tires rated to sustain 168 mph or higher (which means at least a W speed rating). Though we didn’t test that certified durability classification, we did focus on the way these nine radials manage the lateral and longitudinal forces generated on a track or a great stretch of road.
I can personally attest that these tires grip like a glove in the summertime and will make you drive like an idiot!
08-01-2012 | 10:30 PM
#3
Just say no!!!!!
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Thanks for the link.. Is there a link to their actual data?
@philter25 What size PSS are you running?
How is the initial turn in? Does the tire respond right away or is there some lag (due to soft sidewalls)?
@philter25 What size PSS are you running?
How is the initial turn in? Does the tire respond right away or is there some lag (due to soft sidewalls)?
08-02-2012 | 10:43 AM
#4
^ Im on stock wheels and running 245s up front and 275s in the rear. Heres my initial review:
https://www.myg37.com/forums/wheels-...er-sports.html
Related to initial turn in, the sidewalls arent completely stiff, but they arent soft either. The tires are comfortable to drive in as daily drivers, so that quality cuts into the initial turn in response due to some softness.
Its very subjective. Someone who has been driving on all seasons might drive my car and think its very firm, whereas someone who autocrosses and has driven on very stiff tires would think these are a little softer.
To set a baseline, compared to the stock 19" sport tires, they are a little firmer and have better turn in responsiveness. If you are looking for a daily driver which will give you the best performance, these fit the bill.
Here is a link to the results data from the test:
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...res-tested.pdf
https://www.myg37.com/forums/wheels-...er-sports.html
Related to initial turn in, the sidewalls arent completely stiff, but they arent soft either. The tires are comfortable to drive in as daily drivers, so that quality cuts into the initial turn in response due to some softness.
Its very subjective. Someone who has been driving on all seasons might drive my car and think its very firm, whereas someone who autocrosses and has driven on very stiff tires would think these are a little softer.
To set a baseline, compared to the stock 19" sport tires, they are a little firmer and have better turn in responsiveness. If you are looking for a daily driver which will give you the best performance, these fit the bill.
Here is a link to the results data from the test:
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...res-tested.pdf
08-02-2012 | 10:55 AM
#5
My tires came in 5th, and i'm happy with that. They really are great in water, a vast improvement over the several sets of Hankook V12's i had prior.
Dry performance is nothing to sneeze at, either. It's a very good, well-balanced tire (comfort, grip, etc...)
Monsters of Grip: Nine Summer-Performance Tires Tested Comparison Tests - Page 6 - Car and Driver
Dry performance is nothing to sneeze at, either. It's a very good, well-balanced tire (comfort, grip, etc...)
Monsters of Grip: Nine Summer-Performance Tires Tested Comparison Tests - Page 6 - Car and Driver
The wet half had us gushing. It was by far the handiest tire on the irrigated autocross and secured a marginal, 0.1-second victory over the Michelin. This tire did as it was told every time. “Excellent wet performance!” declared Geswein. Communication was top-notch, which earned the Conti a subjective perfect 10 in the wet.
It also earned top honors in ride comfort and noise, and it was the most affordable radial in this test, at $133 per tire.
The DW performed clean dry runs with no nicked cones, though we applied more steering corrections than expected. More than any other tire in the dry, this DW was resilient when driven aggressively. Grip fell off predictably, and holding the edge of performance was easy. Recovery from a slide was also quick work.
It also earned top honors in ride comfort and noise, and it was the most affordable radial in this test, at $133 per tire.
The DW performed clean dry runs with no nicked cones, though we applied more steering corrections than expected. More than any other tire in the dry, this DW was resilient when driven aggressively. Grip fell off predictably, and holding the edge of performance was easy. Recovery from a slide was also quick work.
08-02-2012 | 11:25 AM
#6
Just say no!!!!!
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Philter25, thanks for clarifying.
I think sedan results would be noticeably worse. Sedans run 225/50/18 front and 245/45/18 rear. That extra inch can really be felt (no pun intended). Prior to buying the car, I test drove a number of sport sedans and sport coupes. The latter, even with stock rubber, always had more precise turn in and better steering wheel feedback. I can't remember the last car I drove that had all season tires or some type of non performance tire, so i'd probably fall into your second category.
I'll have to talk to discount tire and try to work up a deal on both tires (pss and s04's), then research exactly how michelin's 30 day program works in case I don't like them.
Anyone who's running pure stock sizes on 18" wheels care to chime in with their experience on the pilot super sports?
I have a 2009 G37S with the stock 19" rims and decided to do a plus zero size and put 245/40/19 up front and 275/35/19 in the rear.
I'll have to talk to discount tire and try to work up a deal on both tires (pss and s04's), then research exactly how michelin's 30 day program works in case I don't like them.
Anyone who's running pure stock sizes on 18" wheels care to chime in with their experience on the pilot super sports?
08-07-2012 | 03:11 PM
#7
Monsters of Grip: Nine Summer-Performance Tires Tested - Comparison Test - Car and Driver
SPOILER ALERT: Pilot Super Sports!
SPOILER ALERT: Pilot Super Sports!
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