Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

Pic courtesy of Tire Rack:



Almost all of the initial sizes are 19" and 20", unfortunately. However, 245/40/18 and 225/40/19 (stock R3 size) are on the list. Here's hoping they add more.

I'm really looking forward to trying this out! Though, at this rate, it'll be 2018 by the time that happens, lol...

 

Intriguing!

 

Heh, well kinda. Its on the site, but not quite available yet. My rears will be in stock next week, and fronts beginning of next month. Still, its happening!

Been waiting for these tires.

As for 18 inch sizes, they said that 19's and 20's would be first, then they would other sizes throughout the year.

 

Good deal on the outgoing one then which is still a formidable tire.

 

I really hope this tire is an improvement in steering feel and response over the Pilot Super Sport. That was my one gripe with that tire -- the sidewall is on the soft side because of the "Variable Contact Patch" thing, so certain aspects of the handling aren't as sharp-feeling as they were with the OE Bridgestone Potenza RE050A.

 

My 07 RX8 only has 33k miles on it so I'm trying to use up the first replacement set of Hankook v12's.
I've had my sights on Michelin PSS for a few years since I always buy best street tire I can find for the wet, and then, the dry can be very good, too.

I notice on the new 4s that Michelin says to not flex tires (run car) for 24 hours after they get back to 40 deg F from going down to -7 deg C or they do some kind of cracky thing.

I'd probably have them on my car for the 6 years that tires are considered safe, and it sits around at my carport which can get down to 20's at night and warms back up to 60's in winter.

How would a guy say use his car when it's over 40 deg f, but got too cold the night before?

Did the current PSS have rubber like this? I've never read anything of the sort.

I ran my BMW X1 with summer Pirelli P7's in slushy snow that was about to freeze, and had great traction, but I want Michelin next time and not expensive run flats.

 

Exactly my logic. Any best-in-class wet tire is going to have quite an excess of dry grip for street driving.


That's good advice for any summer tire. A lot of them come with similar warnings.

All rubber has a "glass point" -- basically a temperature so low that it can't easily flex. If it gets that cold, you have to wait for it to warm back up completely before you do anything with it, or it could crack.

The glass point will be different for different tires, but what you posted is decent advice for any summer tire, including the PSS.


You might be better off with the Pilot Sport A/S 3 or A/S 3+, honestly. That will survive those low temps much better. It's very slightly squirmier than the PSS just because of the tread, and obviously doesn't have as much dry grip. However, wet grip should be comparable or better, and it should last longer as well.

 

I've tracked my RX8, and my BMW X1 several times each, and got to where the RX8 is unused except a few nice weather days a year.

I wish I had a garage, but nearly everyone that has street summer tires in the US gets them frozen.

I even live in West Tx where 20 deg f is an extreme low, not like some places with -20.

Some have said the PSS holds its qualities throughout the tread, but the Hankooks can really harden up, and stop wearing or gripping after 3 years and only 13k miles.

I bought them for $100/each shipped, so definitely got my moneys worth.

 

So, I ended up grabbing this tire, but only two. One of my Super Sports had a few punctures, so I had to replace it and its axle-mate, and I wasn't about to order an outdated tire. So I now have two Super Sports and two 4Ss...

Planning on running the 4Ss on the rear axle until they're broken in, and then swapping them to the front to see if I notice any difference in steering feel. If I have any totally spurious subjective impressions, I'll be sure to post them up. :]

One thing I can say, as inconsequential as it is: the 4S is a really good looking tire! It just looks super upscale. The tread has 3D design elements all over; it almost makes the Super Sport look like one of those cheapo tires where everything is cut at right angles. And the design work on the sidewall looks a good 10 years newer than the Super Sport's. Apparently Michelin developed a new technique for making parts of the logos look and feel like velvet. Wish I didn't have to pay for that crap, but I will admit it looks neat. :-P

 

So I recently had to replace one of my 4Ss due to a puncture. With Hunter Road Force balancing, the new one balanced with zero balance weights added. Heard of this happening but never had it happen on one of my tires. Michelin wins again!

Also, swapped the set front-to-back, so it's now 4S front, Super Sport rear. Not sure if I've noticed a tangible difference in the steering. Fairly sure the 4S is better NVH-wise, though.

 

I've had them on my M3 for a couple months now. Very satisfied.

 

My set of 215/40r18 Michelin PSS had one tire have zero weight, and only 1/2 oz on others.

RX8 feels planted every where.

 

Clip from the Tire Rack review:

 

Update after a bit more driving: Yeah, this tire grips harder than the Super Sport. Slight improvement on dry roads, BIG improvement on wet roads.