DCAWD.com

Once I pay off my DC taxes (yeah, DC taxes when I live in Germany... ) I'm upgrading my summer wheels and tires.
I have wheels picked out but I'm not sure about tires. I've narrowed it down to 2 choices: $1130 for Michelin Pilot Super Sports or $520 for Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110.

The V12s are a Tire Rack best seller. Are the Michelin's really worth two sets of the V12s?

They are amazing. Worth two sets? Hmm....tough choice. They run super wide; 265 width PSS on left and 275 width Conti DWS on right

The PSS's look amazing, but I haven't tried them. How much are they compared to ADVAN Neova AD07 for your size?

Didn't see Advans on TireRack. I've had good luck with their customer support and APO shipping so I'm sticking with them.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... WR7AD07LTS

Maybe it's because they don't have your size

Even if they were available they're $50 more each than the Pilot Sports.

Is this the right tire size?
215/40-18 frn
245/35-18 rear

Looks like Car and Driver likes those too...

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... vo-page-10

old article is old. lots of new stuff on the market; Tire Rack has more up to date comparison tests.

Yeah, I'd still say the article is somewhat valid. What is the consensus as of 2012, best budget summer and best budget winter? (When my all seasons wear out i'm going that route with the separate cheapo wheels for winter)

drwrx wrote:Is this the right tire size?
215/40-18 frn
245/35-18 rear

I'll have to double check...

Phibs wrote:Yeah, I'd still say the article is somewhat valid.

100% valid, 50% of the time

LOL!

The test / article was published in 2009. A few new tires have appeared in that time, but the data is still worthwhile.
Tire Rack still has Pilot PS2 as it's benchmark Max Performance tire and throws it against every newcomer. It has been used in 7 tests, the most in that catergory. I would not argue against anyone who chooses it. There are several that exceed it in certain categories and usually for less money, but few do everything that the PS2 does. It also is available in the wider range than most.
If you read enough of the tire Rack Test results, you will see it at or near the top in every test. You will also find several that match it's numbers (or exceed or come close) for some times significantly less money. The Sumitomo HTR Z III is a good example of this kind of tire. Julian rode on them for a time. As I recall they didn't match his Yokohamam ADVAN Neovas in dry traction, but the HTR Z IIIs were better in wet lasted more than twice as long and were less than half the price.

Remember, I'm talking about the Pilot PS2, not the Pilot Sport Cup. That is as near to a track tire as you can come without and R-compound rating.

The Pilot Super Sport replaces PS2's and uses a variation of the Sport Cup design in a streetable compound.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/tes ... p?ttid=141

and a comparison review:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/tes ... p?ttid=148

drwrx wrote:The Sumitomo HTR Z III is a good example of this kind of tire. Julian rode on them for a time. As I recall they didn't match his Yokohamam ADVAN Neovas in dry traction, but the HTR Z IIIs were better in wet lasted more than twice as long and were less than half the price.

Yep, 90% of the traction, a 3rd the price, and lasted longer

Since I also have the expense of summer wheels to account for, I think I'm going to go with the Hankooks. Next summer I'll upgrade to the PSS or what ever the hot tire is then.

I would change mine "back" to summer.... but they kinda never came off... Winter? what winter? More like fall stuck in limbo...

Just remember that winter tires are as much for the lower tempratures as snow and ice.

Amen brother! Ask anyone who has an 04-07 STi what driving on RE070s in near freezing temps was like.
Driver: "I think I can take this right sweeper at 50 mph."
RE070s: "I think you can't."

lol, like riding on The Flinstones tires! STOP?!?!? I'LL STOP WHEN THE TEMPERATURES GO UP!!!

still on the winter tires here... mornings are still in the 30s - 40s. summer rubber no likey.

haha either you get up too early or live somewhere a tad north of DC

or west. I'm still on the winter set.....lots of 40F mornings in Leesburg still. Hell, it snowed in Herndon last week (Thursday morning).

Wheel/tire order placed, payment accepted. Now the long wait for them to be finished and shipped to Deutschland.

Stay tuned for updates.

(and no peeking)