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[blankstar43]

My m3 came with pilot sports and it's time to replace my rear tires b4 a track event.. The front tires r still fine so I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to go ahead and get PSSs for the rear and keep the original pilot sports in the front until they need replaced and then switch the front to PSSs?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Don't worry.....it's ok
I also have now PSS...far better than PS2....amazing grip in wet&dry conditions !

[chris s]

generally not a good idea to mix performance tires from front to rear. Different tread patterns and handling characteristics...could get hairy especially if you're pushing the car to the limit on the track.

I wouldn't do it...

[W///]

I'm running PS2 at the front and PSS at the rear. Plan to switch the PSS all the way around eventually. Having said that, I only drive the M3 on the streets, not sure I'd do that at a track event.

[blankstar43]

I suppose I could buy the fronts and use them for the track day and then switch them back out after.. I just don't want to waste the tread left on the pilot sports

[LimiTed]

i used ps2 fronts with pss rears. Then when I got new rims I got PSS all around. The car is a lot more predictable with the matching PSS fronts. If you dont drive the car too hard then running out the ps2 fronts won't be too bad.

[Transfer]

I bought mine used and it had 255 PS2s front, 275 PSS rear, all with like new tread and I feel that it handles great.

[quiksi]

PS2 prices seem to be increasing lately, so at this point it might be worth it to just replace all 4 PS2's with PSS versus buying only rears

[ben@tirerack]

I'm against mixing tires in any case. And on a car that focuses on handling it's even less desirable. And if you're doing it for a track event it's an especially poor idea.

If you're mixing tires on the Corolla you commute to work in, it's not ideal but I can see why someone might do it. In an M3? On the track?? No.

[alpina527]

Do the PSS rears rub with 12mm spacers, where the PS2 doesn't?

[smmmurf]

If you still have some tread you might still be able to use them even if they are legally too worn for street use.

I'd rather do that vs mismatched tires

[blankstar43]

Thanks for all the responses everyone

The rear tires are basically at the wear bar so there's no way Id take them on the track (I should have changed them a month ago lol)

I guess now it's either between finding a used set of ps2s with 80% or more tread left.. or try and sell the fronts, which still have plenty of good tread, and buy PSSs all around.. Man tires r expensive haha

[gatorfast]

I understand not wanting to mismatch tires but are the PS2's and PSS' really so different? Its not like having snow tires on the front and summer tires on the rear. Isnt the PSS essentially a next generation/upgraded PS2?

[ortho281]

The Michelin Pilot sports, PS2 and PSS are slightly different compounds, but not so different that it would make a huge difference on the track. Worn fronts and new rears (or vise versa) would make a bigger difference. If you can afford it get a set of the PSS and hang on to the Pilot sports in case you ever need them.

[blankstar43]

a set of new PSS's on the way

anybody need a set of pilot sport 245/35/19 with plenty of tread left?lol

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I understand not wanting to mismatch tires but are the PS2's and PSS' really so different? Its not like having snow tires on the front and summer tires on the rear. Isnt the PSS essentially a next generation/upgraded PS2?

I agree. I'm the second owner on my car and for some reason the previous owner has PS2s in 255/35/19 front and PSS in 275/35/19 rear. It's a ZCP on stock wheels with 18k miles when I bought it. I'm not sure why he replaced the fronts with PS2s and the rears with PSS but both still have near new tread left and I want to hit the track this year. I just priced out PSS fronts and it would be about $600. Seems kind of rediculous to swap out the near new PS2s on the front and blow $600 for what will likely be nearly no difference. If they were Pirelli front, Michelin rear then that's way different but with the PS2/PSS what does it matter?

[happos2]

On track, definitely not do it. Even on the street, I wouldn't do it.

That being said, you won't harm the car in any way if you do keep the set up. Like a lot of peeps said, keep all shoes the same for best driving characteristics and maximum fun.

[sergkoko]

I had a mixed set of front/rears at the track one time with wider stickier tires on the rear and it was the worst thing imaginable, it also tore my fronts to shreds, because of how bad the car was understeering.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by alpina527

Do the PSS rears rub with 12mm spacers, where the PS2 doesn't?

They definitely have a risk of rubbing. My PSS in stock size rear rubs with 10mm spacers. My car is lowered on coilover suspension. If you are at stock height, it might be ok. My PS2 never rubbed with the same spacers.

[Andy_H_E92_M3]

Originally Posted by blankstar43

I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to go ahead and get PSSs for the rear and keep the original pilot sports in the front?

Not optimal, of course... but also not necessarily a bad idea. I had to run mismatched F/R pairs at 4 track events last year, and the M3 did great.