Michelin Pilot Sport A/S

[airman]

Hi,

Thinking about replacing ContiExtremeContact with Pilot Sport A/S on my 97q45t. The size is 245/50R16. Any experiences?

[maxnix]

Presume you are using OEM 16x7 wheel.

Size is good, but short. 255/50-16 is correct.

I would avoid AS designation on any tire unless snow is very infrequent, short lived and thin as it is a reduced performance summer tire. But note 7" is minimum rim width for a 255/50 tire and Heath reported some squirm with them, but Greg has run them in Falken and some other sizes. Why I stuck with shorter 245/50 when my wife had hers.

Avon Tech M500 is not as good a tire, but will perform better on the short term.
Modified by maxnix at 7:17 AM 4/20/2006

[Q45tech]

Unfortunately 255/50/16 HAS GONE the way of 15" really nothing available with good- excellant wet braking handling. Heck nothing decent in A/S at any price.

Remember the Pilot A/S are 51 psi tires so 40-41 psi COLD inflation. Especially in Texas.

[szh]

Remember the Pilot A/S are 51 psi tires so 40-41 psi COLD inflation.

Dennis, is this a good generalization to apply for all 51psi max tires? Or specific to the Pilot A/S?

For example, I am running 51 psi max tires (the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 245/45-18 100W), and using 36 psi on my M45 (a 3900+ lb car).

Since these are 100 load index tires, I figured it was a good value (since the load rating is measured at 36 psi). I am getting pretty even wear across the tread. I also assume that the higher load index and W rating probably means stiffer sidewalls to begin with.

Z

[airman]

Yes, OEM 16" wheel. I chose 245/50 because almost nothing is available in the 255/50 size. I already have Continental in this size, so no problems with width. Yes, car sits a bit lower so mud flaps are touching the ground over the speed bumps more often and the speedo is 2% off.

All-season, because I moved to Seattle and there's occational snow/slush on the mountain passes. May be it's not worth it.

[airman]

From what I understand from reviews on Avon Tech tires - mostly happy owners of the lighter cars. People with heavy cars are often not satisfied. It sounds like a weaker tire. Although I tempted to try at this price.

[Q45tech]

Back when most tires were 35-36 psi max the side walls had to be stronger to support the stress weight also tires didn't last as long as they do today.

Michelin compiled a significant amount of data [from all brands] that showed that beyond 20,000 miles tires fail at a sudden and exponential rate.

It really is all about averages, how much extra safety load margin is built into the tires. Michelins material costs are not $2.00 more than domestic or other foreign companies and their labor/health cost are lower than all domestic union shops.........yet they make little in the way of profit [?].

Research and automation and quality control eat them up.....how many tire companies xray all their performance tires --------just ONE.

Only aircraft tires are required to be xrayed!

[maxnix]

Well, I went back to Austin after 16 years in Seattle. You usually don't need snow tires around Seattle unless you live out in the hills. Ususally a bad storm every 10 years. Trust in chains or cables for in town snow traction. Personally, I don't drive when it snows there unless I have to because most of the drivers are no better than Texans in the snow.

If you want to drive the passes in winter, or all the time in winter no matter what, get another set of wheels for snow tires.

Pay attention to wet performance rating at TR. Summer tires usually do better.

[airman]

Well, I went back to Austin after 16 years in Seattle. You usually don't need snow tires around Seattle unless you live out in the hills. Ususally a bad storm every 10 years. Trust in chains or cables for in town snow traction. Personally, I don't drive when it snows there unless I have to because most of the drivers are no better than Texans in the snow..

Oh, you moved back to Austin? I thought I'd meet you here when was moving.

If you want to drive the passes in winter, or all the time in winter no matter what, get another set of wheels for snow tires.

Pay attention to wet performance rating at TR. Summer tires usually do better.

Hmm... I don't have place to keep second set of tires, as I'm constantly moving and don't have permanent residence. Using all-season tires I'm able to drive up over packed snow to the parking on most ski areas. Also, I safely got over the mountain pass during heavy snow blizzard night this winter. I doubt it'd be possible with pure summer tires.
Modified by airman at 5:50 AM 4/1/2006

[maxnix]

Using all-season tires I'm able to drive up over packed snow to the parking on most ski areas. Also, I safely got over the mountain pass during heavy snow blizzard night this winter. I doubt it'd be possible with pure summer tires.

Dont' let the state troopers catch you. When they say traction devices required, they are not kidding.

AS is not meant for the conditons you describe. You have been lucky. Dont push it. For a fee, tire companies will store your tires.

[airman]

So I installed the Pilots. I must tell they are significantly better than Continentals. Improved directional stability, balanced ideally, sharper steering response, no flatspotting, less noise. They have softer compound too, so must have better traction.

[Q45tech]

Just to give you a comparison balanced [FOR A q CUSTOMER] 4 brand new KH11 Kumho Summer tires [same version I had trouble with year ago - THOSE ARE STILL SITTING IN THE SHED ROTTING], -- All required a minimum of 45 grams and some need 105 grams.

Took a set of 2 year old half worn 20,000 mile Michelin H4 from my storage and mounted them on the same wheels all were under 20 grams in total to balance.

2 to 5+ times the required balance weights new vs used should tell you a lot.

WE KEEP 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45, 50 gram individual clip on weights for a reason............they sure are not for Michelins

[BlackBirdVQ]

Just put on my 245-40-18 Avon Tech M500 summer tires on my Q today and aligned it.

Deffinite step up over the Nankang stuff I had on the wheels before, all 4 tires needed about 10-25grams of weight added to them to balance out properly on my cheezy HP Racing EVO wheels- not the best but I got them for almost free and I cant complain bout the look eighter.

Avons are quiet, and they seem to comunicate much better along with much more controlled ride- might be cause of the aligment thou. But at 80MPH there is no tire noise and the ride is just as quiet at 40MPH as it is at 80MPH.