Michelin Pilot Sport - this tire could have prevented Chappaquiddick
Written: Dec 25 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sticky, sticky, sticky
Cons: Not great in heavy rain, punishing on bumpy roads
The Bottom Line: -
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| carnut2k4's Full Review: Michelin Pilot Sport Passenger/Performance Tire |
My last car was a 1999 Saab 9-5 which came stock with 16 inch rims wrapped in 205/55 series junk. After a few years I treated her to 18 inch rims and, of course, new rubber. The first set of high performance tires were toast in under 10k miles. For my next set I went with Michelin Pilot Sports. I was very happy with this choice.
This review is specifically on the 225/40 ZR18 incarnation of this tire.
The secret code
Everything you need to know about the tire is right there on the blackwall. In this case the 225 means the tire is 225 millimeters across the section width or tread width of the tire. The 40 is the aspect ratio of the sidewall. The height of the sidewall is 40 percent of 225, or 90 millimeters in this case. The Z refers to the speed rating which in this case is certified safe at speeds in excess of 186 MPH which is e velocity I was never in danger of feeling in that Saab. The R means it is a Radial tire and 18 refers to the size of the rim (in inches) that the tire fits on. Neat, huh?
There are some more numbers and markings to take note of. The Tread-Wear is listed at 220 which is an arbitrary number relating to how long the expected tread-life is in comparison to other tires. Traction is listed as AA which is very aggressive and the Temperature rating is listed at a solid A. The Load Rating of this tire is 88 which means that each tire can support 560 kilos or 1235 pounds. The initial tread depth is 10/32 of an inch.
Warranty
No specific mileage warranty is made but there is some coverage. A Uniformity Warranty covers certain manufacturing defects (such as an out or round tire) for the first 2/32 of an inch of the tires life. A Workmanship and Materials Warranty covers the tire with free replacement for 6 years or 2/32 of an inch, whichever comes first. An aggressive driver may reach that 2/32 within months. After 2/32 the warranty is prorated until it expires at 6 years or the final 2/32 of tread - whichever comes first.
He went thataway
This tire has a symmetrical V shaped tread which is directional meaning it can only spin in one direction. If you mount it and run it backwards it will provide dangerously little traction and a severely shortened tire life can be expected. This tread is a no nonsense, aggressive footprint that is really only recommended for summertime use. I live in Florida so it was an all season tire to me. The compound is very sticky. With rubber as soft as this you can almost certainly expect a short lifespan. A year or twelve thousand miles is about what I expected. I sold the car after putting ten thousand miles on these tires and they had more than half the tread left still. In that respect the Pilots seriously exceeded my expectations.
On the road
Sticky, sticky, sticky. I love these tires. Properly inflated and with a properly tuned suspension these tires make you feel like you're on rails. I got so used to taking 30 mph turns at 70, that I sometimes was surprised by the fear in my passenger's eyes. Confidence inspiring is an understatement. I could still spin the wheels from a stop but it was much more difficult with these tires. For an all around summertime dry pavement tire, look no further. All the performance the average person is looking for can be found here.
In the rain was a different story. Truthfully they handled the rain better than I thought they would but were out of their league in the really torrential downpours that the tropics are prone to in the summer. I was always left in the right lane with my hazards flashing while Aqua-Tread clad minivans blasted past me.
Comfort
Not too much comfort here. Jumping from 16 to eighteen inch rims with 40 series rubber meant a price had to be paid in the form of ride quality. This set-up made for a jarring ride in Florida and when I was in NY the ride was downright hostile. In fact with all the potholes I would strongly recommend against this tire in NY. Road noise was much louder than the stock tires they replaced but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Turn up the radio a little bit and you're fine.
Overall
This is an exceptional performance tire in its genre. Street racer types and those driving luxury cars who want a little less luxury in the ride will be happy with this tire. I expect the tire lasts in excess of 15K miles which is astounding for a Z rated tire. The premium price is absorbed by the extended life expectancy. I was leery about the two hundred dollar price tag but now see it as a savings in the long run.
I recommend this tire without reservation
http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinPilotSport.html
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 200
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carnut2k4
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Member: Jason
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Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers
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