Where can I see these wheels, and, how much do they weigh? Need more info...

As for the Toyo Proxes T1-S, they're an excellent summer tire. If you don't need all-season capability, they're hard to beat. I kinda need it here in Colorado (my '8 is all but useless on icy roads with the stock Potenzas) so I went with these Pirellis. Allllllmost went with the Toyo Proxes 4 all-season ultra high performance, but the Pirellis won out on tread life.

Omicron, Nice find on the Pirelli's. I too have been slushing this winter with the OEM tires and have been debating the winter tire/wheel setup. Had a set of winter Pirelli's on rims for my Miata for 12 years. Can't wait to see your pics.

I have actually been stuck on perfectly level ground.......the weather here in Detroit is "unpredictable" to say the least.....I had put 4 50lb bags of tube sand in the truck for weight......it didnt help much...in fact...the added weight would actually cause the front end to "push" so I took them back out.....

If you would like to see the MAHDI CAESAR TS-5 go here

http://www.mahdicaesar.com/ts5.html

Hmmm, dunno Ducatipace, but I would almost have to see them on the car. Look kinda bright and possibly heavy, but are definitely beautiful wheels. Wish there were more pics on the website!

"Unpredictable" describes the weather where I live here in Colorado too. We always say "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes!" and that's pretty true during the winter. It can be beautiful, sunny, and 60 degrees one minute, and within an hour turn to snowing and 30 degrees. Then it's back to beautiful and sunny and it all melts within a day or two. In the mean time, this makes for icy roads, as the snow hits and melts, but as more of it piles on the wet underlayer turns to ice.

I tried getting my '8 down the street one day shortly after I got it, and even at 25 MPH, the backend was doing little fishtails. Then I barely got it back into my garage, and my driveway only has about a 5% slope.

Anyway, tires are going on TODAY, so pics will soon follow. :D

Ok, here they are! :D

Pic 1......

I see a ms side skirt on their

Pic 2....

Pic 3....

pic 4...

Pic 5... :D

Initial impressions of the tires, is, well, AWESOME. They ride as well or better than the Potenzas, are at least as quiet if not quieter, and seem MORE responsive. All this is on dry roads, and I've only driven them about 10 miles so far. More to follow.

Yup, you do. See this thread for a full set of pics. Got them put on today too. :D

And at a buck-fifty a shot, you can't beat 'em. Quality and value.

Keep us posted as you go... :)

Yeah, no kidding! I'll probably post impressions again after I have a few days to drive on them. Stay tuned!

Looking BeeeUtiful! I'm staying tuned.

Tires and MS sideskirts look great! BTW I've never seen that many little rubber things hanging off a new tire. Looks like Pinhead from the movies!

Omicron,

Did you happen to weigh the tires?

Thanks

Al

Yeah, no kidding, I have FUZZY TIRES! Feel like I oughta shave 'em or something... go to work with a Norelco... :D

Nope, sorry. Wish I had.

Update:

These PZero Nero's ROCK! They handle at least every bit as good as the stock Potenzas, and are in some ways better. They're definitely quieter, and once warmed up, actually seem to ride a bit softer - but in a good way. Sidewalls must not be quite as stiff and that's a good thing. I was concerned about the new shorter sidewall of the 245/40-18s might degrade the ride as compared to the stock 225/45-18s, but that's not the case with these tires.

However, while I have now driven a few days on these tires, I still have not had a chance to really wring 'em out in the twisties. I've gone into a few corners pretty hard (there's a few good ones on my way to work) and can definitively say they are as good as the Potenzas, but want to reserve final judgement on just exactly how much better they are after I tackle a few mountain twisties.

FINAL UPDATE: Had a chance to go "play" today on some nice windy roads, and I stand by my original conclusion: these tires, in the new (wider) 245/40-18 size, ABSOLUTELY ROCK!!!

At lower speeds they feel pretty similar to the Potenzas, although turning response is tighter and the car feels MUCH more firmly "planted" on the road. At higher speeds (80+ MPH :D) the turning response is more sensitive, although not in a bad way at all. The car doesn't feel "darty" at all, just like it's paying more attention to steering input.

These tires are also stickier than the Potenzas... I'd say I can hit a corner an average of 5-10 MPH faster with these tires than with the old ones. They also telegraph when their adhesion limits are being reached, and break free progressively rather than suddenly.

And finally, as I've mentioned before, these Pirellis are quieter and ride nicer than the Potenzas. Overall, I'd give them a BIG thumbs-up, and highly recommend them.

:D

Tires
 

Omicron,
Great reveiw. Glad to hear the 40 series are comfortable if not more comfortable than the 45 in the 040s.

Al

Omicron
Great reviews, and great looking car too. Many thanks.

I have one question for you. How are these tires behaving on bad roads in terms of stability, and following the groves or tramlining. We have some pretty grooved highways in oregon, and the current potenzas seem to do ok as far as, not following the rutts or grooves. They are doing much better than my previous S03 on BMW. While the Potenzas S03 are awsome, they tend to follow every groove, so you are constantly correcting your line, and at high speed they were flat out scary in a grooved freeway. These Potenzas 40 while are not so great in clod or wet climate, they handle the grooved streets very well. Could you please let me what are your impressions concerning this matter.
FYI I have replaced my SO3 with the Nero Z rating last year, and was very pleased. My big concern is going to wider rtires on the front, which may worsen the car response on grooved roads.

Again thanks for the review, and thanks in advance for any help

Mark

Hi Mark -

Funny you should mention tramlining... I should have brought this up, because I specifically noticed the lack of it this morning. One long section of road I was on has some serious grooves in it, and I'm happy to say, these Pirellis are better than the Potenzas were on it. In other words, I noted they did not tramline at all. I mean, I can feel the grooves, but they do not affect the car. I've driven other cars on these same roads and the tramlining is so bad it becomes a white knuckle experience. But not with these tires.

And I guess my "Final update" was a bit premature as well, since I have not yet driven the car with these tires on wet, snowy, or icy roads. LOL, this was one of the main reasons I went with UHP all-seasons, so that I could! Pretty funny, guess I lost sight of that in my enthusiasm about how damn good the tires are on DRY roads. Hehehee. :D

Ok, so I'll post a real "final update" after I drive them on roads that are less than ideal. Stay tuned.

Steamboat? I can understand the addiction, thoroughly. :D I live north and east of Steamboat... I am waiting for the roads to improve a little before attempting to make that trip again... for now, I'm just content with going as far as Walden, CO. The next time you head out this way, let me know! We can hook up and get some great pix of our 8's in and around Steamboat!:D