Ordered some tires

[gorb]

I probably should have made the thread before I placed my order, but oh well.

Anybody have any comments on the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3? According to Tire Rack and Consumer Reports, they're the best UHP all-season.

I currently have a set of Continental ContiProContacts on my car (2013 Civic EX). They only have ~27,000 miles on em and they're just about bald. I keep my tires properly inflated and rotate them regularly. I don't peel out or brake hard. I dunno why they have worn so quickly. There is a 50k or 60k mileage warranty on that model of tire but it of course doesn't apply to OEM tires. I didn't think the continentals had great performance in the rain so this is a blessing in disguise I guess because all the reviews I've read say that the pilot sport a/s 3s are great wet (dry as well of course).

I ordered the Michelins this morning from costco. $547.41 delivered & installed whenever they arrive. I've never bought tires at costco before so hopefully there aren't any issues. They do have a 5 year road hazard program included which is very nice. 45k mileage warranty from the manufacturer.

 

[toronado97]

The two most popular/best bang for money tires out there right now seem to be the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 and the Continental ExtremeContact DWS, so I figure you did good.

 

[Midwayman]

Considering you're in TX, I'm not sure why you don't just get summer tires?

 

[JCH13]

Word on street (internet?) is that they're great tires.

TX actually gets pretty cold, and can see snow, so all-seasons are a reasonable choice and typically last a lot longer than summers.

 

[nitrous9200]

I've put a few thousand miles on a set of Pilot Sport A/S3s, also installed at Costco, and I find them to be very good, no real complaints. I don't drive too aggressively but they grip fine and aren't noisy to me.

The only thing is that the steering response seems a bit duller than the summer tires I had on there before, but I was running those at a higher pressure - Costco filled the Michelins to the car manufacturer's rating and I haven't tried boosting the pressure to see if that changes anything. It's not a problem for me, just something I noticed.

 

[Imported]

I put A/S3s on my 228i to replace the runflats I had. So far so good.. taking it for an autocross tomorrow. Going to feel a lot different from my last autocross (modified G35 with RS3s and Miata with RS3s).

 

[JCH13]

I put A/S3s on my 228i to replace the runflats I had. So far so good.. taking it for an autocross tomorrow. Going to feel a lot different from my last autocross (modified G35 with RS3s and Miata with RS3s).

Let us know how sad you are after that autox

 

[Ferzerp]

The only thing is that the steering response seems a bit duller than the summer tires I had on there before, but I was running those at a higher pressure - Costco filled the Michelins to the car manufacturer's rating and I haven't tried boosting the pressure to see if that changes anything. It's not a problem for me, just something I noticed.

Well, to be perfectly blunt, duh. If they could handle as well as a summer only compound and tread we wouldn't all be pushing people towards summer tires when they want the absolute best performance. All season tires suck for performance. No way around it.

 

[kitatech]

Well, to be perfectly blunt, duh. If they could handle as well as a summer only compound and tread we wouldn't all be pushing people towards summer tires when they want the absolute best performance. All season tires suck for performance. No way around it.

The chemical compound in A/S tires is designed to stay more flexible in cold temps, so WHERE you ride makes a difference in the tire you run with...I'm not talking SNOW capabilities, more a tread design parameter, but of traction based on gripping ability of the rubber...

Another variable is the car itself...a high performance car demands a high performance tire...summer tires yes...because of the extreme limits the tires will experience...a daily driver, a family sedan, would find A/S-UHP perfectly acceptable.

 

[Imported]

Let us know how sad you are after that autox

They handled better than I expected. Finished third in class and my times were better than some better equipped 135s. Maybe its a driver thing..

 

[ViviTheMage]

The two most popular/best bang for money tires out there right now seem to be the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 and the Continental ExtremeContact DWS, so I figure you did good.

I have read a LOT on both tires, the DWS are a bit squishier on the sidewall, so cornering can feel a little loose, but ride comfort is great. From what i've seen on the A/S3, they're great tires, a bit harder sidewall, so they perform better and are all around great tires. They came out last last year, so they have been around for 1 winter now, so there should be some OK reviews as we had an awesome winter last year, snow wise.

I picked up some A/S3's for my 335i with xdrive on my summer set a few weeks ago after puncturing one of my PS2's. I still plan on running a set of winters though. I want to see how they perform in windows with my AWD and some powder.

 

[JCH13]

They handled better than I expected. Finished third in class and my times were better than some better equipped 135s. Maybe its a driver thing..

Having watched Black2NA beat at least half the WRXs/STIs in a 'street prep' class with UTQG 700 all-seasons on an FXT, I'd say driver has a lot to do with it.

 

[richardycc]

I got some new tires for my Jeep and my wife's RDX...I got her the Continental ExtremeContact DWS and I got the Goodyear Fortera HL, about $1400 installed for both out the door with alignment. I didn't want to spend too much for the Jeep since I will probably keep it for another yr or so, but with the new shocks and struts and now new tires, I might keep it longer.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I have them on my cts-v and love them. I've run the contis and pilot super sports, the contis are a joke IMHO. The super sport is a FANTASTIC tire but wears out very quickly and has some usability issues. I push my cars fairly hard, up in the mountains and that sort of thing.

The A/S 3 is 95% of a super sport in the dry, which is pretty insane for an all season. The A/S 3 tests better than most of the summer high performance tires.

The super sports had to warm up before you could push them, particularly in the winter. I live in the south and they were a little dangerous until there are 4-5 miles on them. I live 8 miles from my office, so that was pretty obnoxious.

We go to the beach fairly often and super sports were terrible in the rain. I know people claim they're just fine, that summer tires do great in the rain, but they were a joke compared to the A/S 3.


From here on out I will only put super sports on nice weather only cars. For non-trackday situations the A/S3 is every bit as good.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

One thing with michelin tires, is to get the "extra load" versions... They have stiffer sidewalls. For most sizes the A/S 3 is like this. If you care about performance get the extra load variant.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Well, to be perfectly blunt, duh. If they could handle as well as a summer only compound and tread we wouldn't all be pushing people towards summer tires when they want the absolute best performance. All season tires suck for performance. No way around it.

You're completely wrong here. I've run at least 7-8 sets of pilot super sports on various vehicles. I went from super sports to A/S 3 in my cts-v, and they really do handle better than the conti's that came on my z4m - by far.

There is SO much more to tires than "summer tires are better the end"

 

[gorb]

Nice to see some positive comments

Is the "load rating" the number next to the speed rating?

The tires on my car are continental contiprocontact 205/55R16 89H.

They had two versions of the michelin PS A/S 3 in my size at costco:
205/55/R16 91H
205/55/R16 91V

I bought the V rated ones.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sel...port/pilot-sport-a-s-3/tire-details#techspecs

It looks like they also make a Y speed rating. But no XL in that size.

 

[rsutoratosu]

I just got the as/3 on my z4, loved it. Had dws before, it was good but because of the soft side wall, i got bubbles on the it.

So far (less than 200 miles) as3 has no issue, very quiet ride. theres a 70 rebate for those right now. I think costco may qualify ?

 

[gorb]

Yeah, Costco is offering $70 off a set of 4 Michelin tires.

Cost breakdown was $519.96 for the four tires, $56 for installation, $4 for disposal, -$70 coupon, and $37.45 tax.

 

[Imported]

I just got the as/3 on my z4, loved it. Had dws before, it was good but because of the soft side wall, i got bubbles on the it.

So far (less than 200 miles) as3 has no issue, very quiet ride. theres a 70 rebate for those right now. I think costco may qualify ?

My brother works for a tire shop. Michelin alternates their rebates. For example, Tire Rack and Costco will get the rebate for two weeks then the next two weeks America's Tire, etc. will.

 

[SearchMaster]

Nice to see some positive comments

Is the "load rating" the number next to the speed rating?

The tires on my car are continental contiprocontact 205/55R16 89H.

They had two versions of the michelin PS A/S 3 in my size at costco:
205/55/R16 91H
205/55/R16 91V

I bought the V rated ones.

Load is the 91...H/V are the speed ratings. H speed tires are rated up to 130mph, V speed tires are 149mph.

The load rating is relatively unimportant for passenger cars (moreso for trucks), other than the stiffer sidewall as mentioned. In your size, Michelin only has three models but each has a 91 load rating. They also offer a Y speed rated tire (186mph) but Costco probably doesn't carry that one. I doubt your Civic EX is going to be exceeding the 149mph rating of your V tires anyway

 

[gorb]

I guess I should have bought the H-rated ones and saved $20 because I wouldn't be coming close to the 130mph rating either D:

Got the tires installed last night. Took around 45 minutes. Killed time by eating a hot dog and polish sausage

 

[kitatech]

Load is the 91...H/V are the speed ratings. H speed tires are rated up to 130mph, V speed tires are 149mph.

The load rating is relatively unimportant for passenger cars (moreso for trucks), other than the stiffer sidewall as mentioned. In your size, Michelin only has three models but each has a 91 load rating. They also offer a Y speed rated tire (186mph) but Costco probably doesn't carry that one. I doubt your Civic EX is going to be exceeding the 149mph rating of your V tires anyway

I guess I should have bought the H-rated ones and saved $20 because I wouldn't be coming close to the 130mph rating either D:

Got the tires installed last night. Took around 45 minutes. Killed time by eating a hot dog and polish sausage

Speed rating has nothing to do with YOUR speed...it's the manufacturers specification for the TIRE'S safe use...

Higher speed rated tires will perform better under extreme conditions and situations that a performance CAR might put it to...that being said, any car will appreciate the better handling characteristics, braking, cornering etc., of the higher rated tire.