Tires: Key Component
With all the performance- and safety-enhancing technology on current cars, people seem to forget how important another key component -- tire choice -- is. The right tires can make a noticeable difference in terms of optimizing handling and braking. And ultimately, things like traction control and stability control are worthless if there's not enough grip on the road.
At a recent Michelin event I went to, the tire company was showing off a pair of new models -- the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP and the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus. The former is a high-performance run-flat tire ("ZP" stands for Zero Pressure, get it?) and the other is, as you've figured out, a high-performance all-season tire.
Much of the event consisted of driving similar vehicles on various surfaces, some equipped with original equipment tires and others with the new Michelins. We drove C5 Corvettes on both dry and wet autocross courses (mini-race courses set up in a huge parking lot with cones marking the track's shape). One 'vette had the original-equipment Goodyear Eagle F1s, the other the Pilot Sport PS2 ZPs. The difference was seat-of-the-pants noticeable. The Michelin 'vette had more grip and when it did let go and slide, it was more progressive and easier to catch (we had the stability control shut off). The combination of higher grip and more progressive break-away translated not only into faster lap times, but into a greater degree of safety as well.
We also drove Cadillac DTS sedans and tested them for maximum braking on dry and wet surfaces. The wet surface was an eye-opener, as the DTS fitted with the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus tires stopped 8-10 feet shorter from 60 mph than the equivalent Caddy wearing original-spec Goodyear Eagle RS-As.
There were a few other driving exercises but you get the point. Just because your car comes with a certain tire doesn't mean that's what you should go with when it's time to replace its shoes. Different tread compounds and designs can make a difference in the real world, whether you're enjoying your sports car on a desolate winding road or engaging in a panic stop on a rain-slicked highway. A great source for new tires is tirerack.com, which not only features a huge selection and excellent prices, but tons of information ranging from what all the numbers and letters on the sidewall mean to consumer feedback, the latter is a big help when it's time to select replacements.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor
- Posted by
- John DiPietro September 11, 2008, 3:07 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
Nice blog entry, JDP! Do you have any skidpad numbers for these tires or any other cool info?
Thanks ST. No, they didn't have skidpad numbers. But they did time us in the autocross and provide the panic braking distances when we did those exercises. Both of which confirmed my suspicions of increased performance.
It's also interesting to note that after using Goodyears for, well, years, Chevy chose Michelin Pilots as the standard fitment for the Corvette ZR1. And Chevy, not Michelin, has claimed better than 1.0g in lateral acceleration.
JDP
RS-A's are such awful tires.. I wish they would go away. OE on my CX-7 and transformed the handling when they we're replaced after 11,000 miles nearly being at 4-3/32.
The big question is how well the tires will wear. Did you get a wear rating from Michelin?
Michelins performance tires have a solid reputation for providing relatively long tread life, and the following numbers seem to support that.
The A/S Plus have a treadwear grade of 500, the ZP rates 200. Furthermore, the A/S Plus come with a 45,000-mile warranty -- impressive for sticky, high-performance rubber.
JDP
Is there a website to compare tire brands?
It's a lot of fun comparing tires at the TireRack, and I've purchased wheels and tires from them, as well as tires from a local shop. I became very impressed with the Dunlop WinterSport 3D's overall sporty feel and traction on snow. So much so, I hunted around for the Dunlop Max performance for summer. Man, these put a grin on my face! Good tires have a noticeable improvement in the steering feel, too, of my old '97 Maxima. I have less than 10,000 miles on each set, but they seem to be wearing well.
If I had stayed with the original tires, I'd have traded in my car by now, thinking it was tired crap. Good tires transform a car, along with a rear sway bar and quality shocks.