[Koooop]

The 275/35 is pretty ideal in my book, looks right and works right. There are size availability issues, I couldn't get exactly what I wanted and took this size. I'm happy.

 

[Rodge]

I run the Hankook in 275/35, they fit perfect with zero clearance issues at about $1,000 US out the door. My tire guy says I could fit 295/35's if I want. The 275 offers better hook up, better in corners and gives more protection from curb rash when the wife gets her hands on my SRT.

I'm never going back to 245's.

Thanks for the idea mate. Not keen to go down to 35 profile due to the goat tracks that pass for an excuse for roads around here, they would be too uncomfortable. Presently trying to get the Pilot Sport 4s price down but its very much like beating your head against a brick wall.
I find tyre retailers quite unprofessional. If they can't match or beat the price or they don't stock something they generally don't even bother e.mailing back.
In the meantime every day the inside edge of my passenger side front tyre (which is badly out of alignment after being curbed) is slowly disintegrating down into the canvas. No worries though because there still a steel belt under that right ?

 

[Moparlife]

Just got the 4S's put on the front and finally got rid of the rubbish that was on there.
Little bit of a push from the back but its minor due to the 295's on the rear.

Not sure why they are slugging you so much for the 4S over your way but I ran the P zeros previously and that was the quickest wearing tyre Ive ever run.
You'll get 4 times the milage from the Michies and much better grip

 

[Koooop]

Thanks for the idea mate. Not keen to go down to 35 profile due to the goat tracks that pass for an excuse for roads around here, they would be too uncomfortable. Presently trying to get the Pilot Sport 4s price down but its very much like beating your head against a brick wall.
I find tyre retailers quite unprofessional. If they can't match or beat the price or they don't stock something they generally don't even bother e.mailing back.
In the meantime every day the inside edge of my passenger side front tyre (which is badly out of alignment after being curbed) is slowly disintegrating down into the canvas. No worries though because there still a steel belt under that right ?

I'm in Orange County in Southern California, the roads are great here!

I'll probably try the Michelin next go round, but then I have to be mindful of the tire smoking launches since they're so expensive.

 

[Rodge]

Just got the 4S's put on the front and finally got rid of the rubbish that was on there.
Little bit of a push from the back but its minor due to the 295's on the rear.

Not sure why they are slugging you so much for the 4S over your way but I ran the P zeros previously and that was the quickest wearing tyre Ive ever run.
You'll get 4 times the milage from the Michies and much better grip

Thanks for the feedback on the P Zero's. I hear the same thing, good tyres but their durability is terrible.

Finally got someone to talk a "little" bit of turkey with the Michelins. 4 x 255/45R20 Pilot Sport 4S's get fitted Friday ::biggrin::
Many thanks to all for your input and advice :angel:

 

[Moparlife]

Awesome. I noticed you didnt say the price

 

[Piggy.]

Because no one can jump over it probably. lol.

 

[Rodge]

Not thrilled with the price but hopefully thrilled with the tyres

 

[A1crazycab]

Great set up would be 275/40/20 front and 315/35/20. Had this set up before then went to 22's. Now considering going back to 20's

 

[Rodge]

Early days but the new French boots are inspiring huge confidence. I can sense the fun factor on my car going up !!!!!

 

[Piggy.]

But wait, aren't these frog tyres made in the USA? But I guess that's like giving Canada credit for making our cars.

 

[Rodge]

But wait, aren't these frog tyres made in the USA? But I guess that's like giving Canada credit for making our cars.

lol quite right mate but we're all good because it says Michelin total performance on the side, sums it up quite nicely I reckon::smile::

I got "conned" is it a con I don't know ?? into trying nitrogen. Long and short of it is they reckon it holds pressure better for longer and with the TPMS its easy to keep an eye on tyre pressure anyway. Only $6 a tyre and instead or stopping at the gas station to fill tyres once a month it'll probably save me $24 worth of effort over the life of the tyres so quite probably worth it from labour savings and effort alone, let alone the possible extra tyre life from keeping pressures more accurate ?

Running the new boots on a slightly higher pressure 2.5 on the TPMS when they're cold which is about 36 p.s.i. To my mind that gives a good balance between comfort and control althought I think its fair to say these new American French boots have stiffer sidewalls are a 105 load rated tyre (99 was factory spec) so I guess a standard 2.2 - 2.4 about 32-34 p.s.i. would be just fine too. What pressure do you find gives the best balance between comfort and control mate ?

 

[Piggy.]

I find a variety of factors dictate what tyre pressure I run. Just as a general number I run 36psi. But sometimes I might pump them up a little depending on... type of driving, wear, ride etc. It would never be lower than what's on the sticker... which if I remember correctly is 32? I can't remember off the top of my head but I'm not likely to go that low.

Interestingly I was reading somewhere about the Michelin PS4S and I was surprised to read that they dropped the tyre pressure down a bit with spirited driving. I never followed it up to find out more about that but at the time it seemed to go in the opposite direction to everything I've ever done.

 

[Moparlife]

I was gunna post that link cause its the first thing i thought of when he mentioned nitrogen

 

[Rodge]

Thanks for the feedback Piggy. I love the way some of you Australians call a spade a spade and that guy in the video was great. We've become so politically correct here in New Zealand that if you talked that way on a forum you'd be banned on almost any forum here. I probably got conned out of $6 per tyre but the natural dissipation rate does seem to be a bit slower and with the on board TPMS its easy enough to keep an eye on pressures anyway. Whether the fact that I don't have to fill my tyres as often is worth $24 in labour savings over the full life of the tyres is debateable but I know the loss rate with standard air meant I'd have to check my refill my tyres every month so it'll be interesting to see how Nitrogen performs. I guess a fair bit also has to do with the integrity of the seal between the rim and tyre and I'd like to think the new Michelins will hold pressure better in that regard too.

Yes Piggy as crazy as its seems for a muscle / large luxury car 32 p.s.i. is the factory recommendation. I have never run mine that low due to the number of pot holes around here and risk to the rims. 35 works best for me and it usually drops to the 33-34 range after one month with normal air. Be interesting to see how 36 p.s.i. with Nitrogen holds the pressure.
BTW Yes I do remember from my school days that AIR is already 78% Nitrogen and knew that going into this but they gave me some nice new vales for the tyres with a pretty green cap on them so that's got to be worth $24 bucks anyway doesn't it lol

Yes it does seem counter intuitive to drop pressure for intensive spirited driving. I guess what they're getting at here is arriving at the optimum pressure will full heat in the tyres such as on a track day. I guess if you started with cold tyres on a track day at 32 p.s.i. it wouldn't take too many laps before they were 40 p.s.i. whereas if you started at 36 p.s.i. you might end up when the tyres are really hot with a pressure that's sub optimal for grip ?

 

[Piggy.]

Can't do much spirited driving around here these days. I'd probably get arrested. A short burst here and there works for me. I put the new Dynomax bullets on today, I think I like that better than the total muffler delete. Still loud though. I'll swap out the rims next weekend and see how that goes.

Sounds like you're happy with the new boots. That's great, I hope you enjoy them.

 

[Rodge]

Pretty much the same here mate. Sooo many speed camera's and speed bumps we're pretty much limited to the odd squirt here and there and cruising around the rest of the time.
As you say its hard to find a bad word written about the new boots, doesn't seem to matter which tyre review website you go too everyone's really pleased with their new hoops.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S - Tyre Reviews
Massively confidence inspiring and although I've only done 100 km's or so my sense is that after these tyres settle in the fun factor on my black beast has definitely gone up a notch or two !! Thanks again for your help.
I never got around to doing anything about the exhaust. Might fit a K&N air filter at the next service and get the air inflow going a bit better and maybe a few extra ponies at the back wheels, my sense is the new tyres will cope just fine https://nzairfilter.co.nz/panel-filter/33-2460.html

 

[Rodge]

Some feedback on the Pilot Sport 4S and nitrogen.
After a month I finally got a chance to get out of town for a decent run down to Taupo and did the volcanic loop last Thursday including up and back down the Turoa skifield road which is really windy and challenging. https://www.explorecentralnorthislandnz.com/touring-routes/volcanic-loop/ Also did a day's Skiing at Turoa skifield but by skiing is a lot more rusty than my driving lol
Very very pleased with the Michelin's performance, they offer stunning level's of grip.

Interestingly the tyre pressure set at 36 p.s.i. cold, (2.5 on the tyre pressure monitoring system) when cold has not dropped one little bit in just over a month and 1500 km's.
With normal air the on board tyre pressure monitoring system would have been reading 2.4 or 2.3 by now and I would have had to have stopped and topped up the pressure.

What does my experience suggest.
1. There tyres offer legendary level's of grip.
2. Filled with nitrogen they will definitely hold their pressure a LOT better than with normal air so you WILL get sharper handling as a result of more consistent tyre pressure and less hassle having to top up your tyre pressure as often.
3. You will also probably get very slightly better fuel economy due to more consistent tyre pressure. Worth $6.50 per tyre for the life of the tyre ? Is the Pope a Catholic

 

[Moparlife]

Had a chance to drive it in the wet?

 

[Rodge]

Yes mate but I don't normally push it in the wet so to be honest I can't give any meaningful feedback on that. ALL the feedback on tyre review websites however is really positive about their wet weather performance.

Just as an aside on the handling front, I know its not common practice to think of our big bruisers as handling weapons BUT I did note on reading a back article in my library in the 2016 Motor Magazine bang for your bucks competition that a ZF8 equipped SRT8 Core comfortably beat Ford Australia's best the XR6 and XR8 sprints both in terms of acceleration and most pleasantly lap time and that of course is on the standard Goodyear tyres. I am sure the acceleration and lap times would have been better on the Michelin PS4's !