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      01-14-2009, 06:50 PM   #1
Adonislike
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Michelin - Pilot® Sport Cup

What do some think of these?? Yeah, yeah they are expensive , but some opinions other than that would be cool. Im comparing to the PS2

Sorry if this is a re-post thread
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      01-14-2009, 07:46 PM   #2
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Although they are DOT legal, they really aren't street tires. Hard to keep enough heat in them to perform as well or better than PS2s. If for track use they should be substantially better than the PS2s
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      01-14-2009, 08:31 PM   #3
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Let's not forget that R compound tires wear out quickly!
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      01-14-2009, 08:34 PM   #4
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For R compound tires it's hard to beat the Bfgoodrich R1's. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=g-Force+R1 However they are only up to 18 inches so if you plan to mount them on the 19's I believe the Cup's are the only tire in that size.
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      01-19-2009, 10:50 AM   #5
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I’ve run a couple sets on my old Saab on both track and street. I put 8k road miles on them and two time trials events and didn’t hit the wear markers before selling the car (and getting my M3).

On the track, they got up to heat in a couple hot laps. Stuck fairly well, but not as well as the Hoosiers I’ve run in the past, however lasted much longer (I think I got 5 full track days out of my first set before cording versus 3 in the Hoosiers). I did find that they got greasy when pushed too hard. They were sticky enough to literally lift the paddock paint off the asphalt (bring a wire brush and scraper to pull all the gunk off of them). The track, Second Creek in Denver, I ran was very tight and very hard on equipment... I set my EBC brakes on fire for example. They were worthless for autocross since you could not get them up to heat, even with a co-driver.

Don’t let folks tell you they aren’t good on the street. They did fine (aren’t they OEM on some Porsches?). Obviously, they stuck harder than most summer tires. As expected, they tended to track in ruts, hydroplane in the wet particularly when they got down close to the wear markers, make noise, and pitch pretty much everything you drive over into the wheelwells (nice sandblast effect on the rocker panels). It’s also my belief they were also hard on the Saab’s terrible suspension and flexy chassis by putting extra strain on components (bushings went bad, a sheared engine mount, loose fasteners popping & slipping, etc.). Lots of stick isn’t a good thing when your pulling in and out of parking spaces all day long.

I’d recommend them for someone who does track days, but hates changing tires and having a dedicated set. It’s a drive to the track tire. They are a nice compromise between a true track tire and a summer tire. Tough call for someone because the price isn’t that much higher than the PS2 prices, and it's a much cheaper solution than a dedicated track set of wheels and tires (plus they will last longer).
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      01-19-2009, 11:22 AM   #6
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Agree with mightyaa. Spot on appraisal. I agree with everything you wrote.

I ran them on my e46 in 265/35-18 front and 285/30-18 rear. They wore pretty well. I was surprised with probably 3000 miles on the street and maybe 4 track days. Rears were gone and fronts still had quite a bit of use left.

You really have to be pretty hard-core to run them on the street. They hydroplane like nobody's business and slip/slide all over the place in temperatures below 50 degrees. They are responsive and make the car very darty in day to day driving.
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      01-19-2009, 11:27 AM   #7
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i might be having them on my track set, been hearing a lot of good feedback on them from friends who often track their cars
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      01-19-2009, 04:05 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radiation Joe View Post

You really have to be pretty hard-core to run them on the street. They hydroplane like nobody's business and slip/slide all over the place in temperatures below 50 degrees. They are responsive and make the car very darty in day to day driving.
+1
I have them on my E92 M3 when I bought them in London a few months back. 2000 miles and the thread is nearly half gone. Really hard to use them in the damp not to say wet, as it is so damn slippery.

In the dry - now thats a different story. I personally find that the Cups have so much grip (probably at least 20% more). Finally swap them out (including the wheels) and save the Cups for track days.
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      01-19-2009, 08:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mightyaa View Post
I’ve run a couple sets on my old Saab on both track and street. I put 8k road miles on them and two time trials events and didn’t hit the wear markers before selling the car (and getting my M3).

On the track, they got up to heat in a couple hot laps. Stuck fairly well, but not as well as the Hoosiers I’ve run in the past, however lasted much longer (I think I got 5 full track days out of my first set before cording versus 3 in the Hoosiers). I did find that they got greasy when pushed too hard. They were sticky enough to literally lift the paddock paint off the asphalt (bring a wire brush and scraper to pull all the gunk off of them). The track, Second Creek in Denver, I ran was very tight and very hard on equipment... I set my EBC brakes on fire for example. They were worthless for autocross since you could not get them up to heat, even with a co-driver.

Don’t let folks tell you they aren’t good on the street. They did fine (aren’t they OEM on some Porsches?). Obviously, they stuck harder than most summer tires. As expected, they tended to track in ruts, hydroplane in the wet particularly when they got down close to the wear markers, make noise, and pitch pretty much everything you drive over into the wheelwells (nice sandblast effect on the rocker panels). It’s also my belief they were also hard on the Saab’s terrible suspension and flexy chassis by putting extra strain on components (bushings went bad, a sheared engine mount, loose fasteners popping & slipping, etc.). Lots of stick isn’t a good thing when your pulling in and out of parking spaces all day long.

I’d recommend them for someone who does track days, but hates changing tires and having a dedicated set. It’s a drive to the track tire. They are a nice compromise between a true track tire and a summer tire. Tough call for someone because the price isn’t that much higher than the PS2 prices, and it's a much cheaper solution than a dedicated track set of wheels and tires (plus they will last longer).
+2. Good post!

I currently have them mounted on my summer wheels. I will eventually get track wheels for this car, but in the meanwhile, I put the PSCs on when the stock PS2s were destroyed on the track after 3-4 track days.

PSCs are only about $100 more for the entire set. I just take it really easy on them if it is wet, and I don't put my summer wheels on until it gets to be 60 around here. They performed significantly better than the PS2s on the track. They did eventually get greasy when pushed, but it took more like 15 minutes as opposed to 5 minutes on the PS2s. And the grip was clearly better.

They are great tires for someone who enjoys a few track days a year, but does not feel like getting dedicated track wheels, BUT has dedicated winter wheels/tires.
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      01-19-2009, 09:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adonislike View Post
What do some think of these?? Yeah, yeah they are expensive , but some opinions other than that would be cool. Im comparing to the PS2

Sorry if this is a re-post thread
Great tires! If your going to rum em, run em in the rear and keep the PS2s up front. This way you got the upper hand in all the stoplight Merc battles but just expect to change them every 4 thousand miles or so if you drive on them like you should. If your PSCs last longer than that then you didnt need them in the first place.
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      01-19-2009, 09:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by serven7 View Post
... If your PSCs last longer than that then you didnt need them in the first place.
LOL!
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      01-20-2009, 10:43 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by serven7 View Post
Great tires! If your going to rum em, run em in the rear and keep the PS2s up front. This way you got the upper hand in all the stoplight Merc battles but just expect to change them every 4 thousand miles or so if you drive on them like you should. If your PSCs last longer than that then you didnt need them in the first place.
LOL @ Merc battles. You know, its stunning how many inferior vehicles pull up to me now and start either revving their engine, cutting me off, etc. Thanks everyone for all the feedback. Just ordered my new wheels and will probably be doing the PS2's. Not gonna track it much.
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      01-20-2009, 01:27 PM   #13
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Some very good info here from mightyya, radiation joe et al. The PS Cup is for either:

1) crazy hardcore street drivers
2) club racers / lapping day participants
3) occasional track drivers

When winning is paramount on the track, use BFG R1, Hoosier or other DOT slicks.

If you're not a madman on the street, PS2 or similar will give you all the grip you need, with more life and better wet traction.

But if you only go to the track occasionally, and don't want to have an entirely different setup, or if you run on the track often in a less competitive environment and want a race tire that will last, the Cups are perfect.
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      05-26-2010, 06:03 AM   #14
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+1
I have them on my E92 M3 when I bought them in London a few months back. 2000 miles and the thread is nearly half gone. Really hard to use them in the damp not to say wet, as it is so damn slippery.

In the dry - now thats a different story. I personally find that the Cups have so much grip (probably at least 20% more). Finally swap them out (including the wheels) and save the Cups for track days.

Exactly the same scenario for me, London in the wet = Bad
in the dry awsome! 20% better grip than standard PS2s, but they dont last long!
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      05-26-2010, 06:10 AM   #15
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Note that the Cup tyres produced for the E46 CSL aren't the same as the ones designed for the E9x M3.
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      05-27-2010, 02:46 AM   #16
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They also need alot more camber than regular street tires. Prefer Pirelli Corsa to these though.
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      05-27-2010, 02:53 AM   #17
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1. suck in the rain, but that is a given.......
2. awesome in the hot weather.....
3. I'm running them on Friday, @ 20C ambient temp......we shall see.


Awesome tires for my use. I rarely drive my car (I walk to work ) but, now that's it's summer, per say, I"ll run the Cup tires all summer, regardless of track days or not. '11 335xi for rainy days.....
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      05-27-2010, 09:11 AM   #18
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Don't forget the bridgestone RE-11.

I run them on the street and the track and they are simply amazing. they have loads of grip without wearing as quick as other R-Comp.
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