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[Trier Germany]

Quick question, why do Euro spec M3's get Michelin Cup tires from the factory? I guess there ready for track duty after 1200 miles

[PunjabiM3]

That's the first I have heard of that...

[argonboy]

I wasn't even aware it's an option from factory. I don't think it's part of M Driver's package...

[montreal red]

i dont think factory Ms get PSC... as far as i know only the e46 CSL gets that.

[ersin]

They get the Pilot Sport Cup+, not the Cup (without the plus). The plus means that it's somewhere between street and track. I'm not sure but I believe this is only available with the "sport pack" or something like that, where they also move the speed governor upwards.

[argonboy]

Originally Posted by ersin

They get the Pilot Sport Cup+, not the Cup (without the plus). The plus means that it's somewhere between street and track. I'm not sure but I believe this is only available with the "sport pack" or something like that, where they also move the speed governor upwards.

It's called M Driver's package (7ME), and of course the discussion was about the Cup+, they are the only ones that are OE approved on the M3.

I know someone who has that option, but no Cup+ tires. Oddly enough I don't even see the option for M Driver's pack (on the German price list that's available online) in the 2009 price list.

Quest continues, if anyone has gotten the PS Cup+ fitted from factory, please let us know.

[Uli_HH]

All german delivered M3 (E90+E92 not E93) get the Michelin Sport Cup+ when the 19" wheels are ordered, there is no other option needed - also NO M-Driver package - to get the MSC+. Only the first cars delivered with 19" wheels until ~early 2008 sometimes come Michelin PS2 because Michelin coudn´t produce enaugh Sport Cup+ at this time.
Sport Cup+ is no option when you order an M3 E90/92 with the 19" wheels - you get these tyres if you will or not.

Greets Uli_HH

[ersin]

I stand corrected -- you get them with the 19" wheels in Germany (only in Germany?). What I'd like to know is can you get these aftermarket? I haven't seen them at Tirerack yet.

[FStop7]

Originally Posted by ersin

I stand corrected -- you get them with the 19" wheels in Germany (only in Germany?). What I'd like to know is can you get these aftermarket? I haven't seen them at Tirerack yet.

Tire Rack has them on the website

Sport Cup+ - BMW
Serv. Desc: (93Y)
Load Range XL

$360 each for the fronts, $419 each for the rears

[JuniorDee]

I have them on my car right now (cup+)

[booforty]

Originally Posted by Uli_HH

All german delivered M3 (E90+E92 not E93) get the Michelin Sport Cup+ when the 19" wheels are ordered, there is no other option needed - also NO M-Driver package - to get the MSC+. Only the first cars delivered with 19" wheels until ~early 2008 sometimes come Michelin PS2 because Michelin coudn´t produce enaugh Sport Cup+ at this time.
Sport Cup+ is no option when you order an M3 E90/92 with the 19" wheels - you get these tyres if you will or not.

Greets Uli_HH

Same for the UK, you get Cups if you order 19" alloys. We don't have the "option packs" like in the US, you can spec your M3 by each individual option as you wish.

As stated, some early 2008 UK M3's came with PS2's

[argonboy]

Originally Posted by Uli_HH

All german delivered M3 (E90+E92 not E93) get the Michelin Sport Cup+ when the 19" wheels are ordered, there is no other option needed - also NO M-Driver package - to get the MSC+. Only the first cars delivered with 19" wheels until ~early 2008 sometimes come Michelin PS2 because Michelin coudn´t produce enaugh Sport Cup+ at this time.
Sport Cup+ is no option when you order an M3 E90/92 with the 19" wheels - you get these tyres if you will or not.

Greets Uli_HH

Thanks for the info. Then it means either they don't do it for our market, or I've only seen early build cars. I better upgrade to some Cup+

[ben@tirerack]

Originally Posted by ersin

They get the Pilot Sport Cup+, not the Cup (without the plus). The plus means that it's somewhere between street and track. I'm not sure but I believe this is only available with the "sport pack" or something like that, where they also move the speed governor upwards.

Good info about the Cup +. The + was developed to be a more street friendly version of the Cup. The tread pattern is a little more open, so they do not hydroplane as easily, and they warm up faster so as to develop more grip on the street. They would be at a disadvantage to the regular Cup on the racetrack.

Even "re-tuned" for the street, the Pilot Sport Cup+ is probably deemed too hardcore for the average U.S. buyer. Europeans in general are more used to summer tires, but in the U.S. everyone but enthusiasts is used to all-season tires. The short treadwear would come as a shock to many who bought the car as a status symbol rather than a track toy or canyon carver. I think they probably feared all the crying and moaning that would ensue when people found out that their $1500 set of tires only lasts 8K miles.

As mentioned above, we do have them available. Prices accurate as of this posting, though always possible to change. Check the site for the current pricing.

[Trier Germany]

Thanks for all the great information.

[doba_s]

it definitely should be an option for US buyers as well ...

[argonboy]

How much of an improvement are these (Cup+) over PS2? I'm thinking about ordering some but not sure whether I'd be dropping a lot of money on performance that I will never use and get stuck with the downsides.
Dry traction is important for me. How are they when it rains? Half useless? (don't worry, I won't take DSC off and whine on the forum that I spun out). I've seen Ben's info about the various tires available in OEM sizes, but I'm looking for more feedback.

I've driven on PS2 at Salzburgring in pretty heavy rain and they were amazing, I'm not expecting that. Even in track driving DSC would not even kick in except for sudden maneuvers or correcting upon missing the entry on a turn.

The fronts for the PSC+ just became available again from my tire place (online), only rears were available before. The price for all 4 would be about EUR 1650 (~$2150).
To put things in perspective the Advan RS wheels would cost about the same (EUR 1620) before shipping and tax from Japan, (add EUR1200 for shipping, customs, VAT).

[lucid]

Originally Posted by argonboy

How much of an improvement are these (Cup+) over PS2? I'm thinking about ordering some but not sure whether I'd be dropping a lot of money on performance that I will never use and get stuck with the downsides.
Dry traction is important for me. How are they when it rains? Half useless? (don't worry, I won't take DSC off and whine on the forum that I spun out). I've seen Ben's info about the various tires available in OEM sizes, but I'm looking for more feedback.

I've driven on PS2 at Salzburgring in pretty heavy rain and they were amazing, I'm not expecting that. Even in track driving DSC would not even kick in except for sudden maneuvers or correcting upon missing the entry on a turn.

The fronts for the PSC+ just became available again from my tire place (online), only rears were available before. The price for all 4 would be about EUR 1650 (~$2150).
To put things in perspective the Advan RS wheels would cost about the same (EUR 1620) before shipping and tax from Japan, (add EUR1200 for shipping, customs, VAT).

I have the CUP+ tires on my stock 19" wheels, and had to use them on the track last weekend because my alternative was slicks. It was raining pretty much the whole time and barely above freezing. Not a good combo. They did hyroplane under braking at high speed, and under those conditions, it took a long time to heat them up, so I didn't have much confidence in the car. They are fine on wet streets, but I'd be careful about driving them on a wet highway in case you need to get on the brakes at speed.

More on my wet track experience here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248214

They are awesome on the street and on the track when all is dry. I did a dry track day with them, and they did not get greasy like PS2s do, and they surely have more bite. It's all very noticable.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no non plus (just PSC) tires that would fit the OEM 19" wheels. Avaliable sizes at tirerack: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...5YR9SPORTCUPXL

I suspect the + and the non+ PSC use the same compound, and the difference is the more "open" tread design of the + as Ben put it. + has a wide circumferential groove the non+ does not have, and some of the other thin circumferential grooves might also be wider on the + as well, so the + should have less contact surface.

The other thing is they are the lightest street tires that I know of. They save 1-2 lbs per corner over the PS2s, which are very light to begin with, and even more over other alternatives.

[argonboy]

Thanks for the feedback, great info. The best combo would probably be to put some of these on the Advan RS and keep the stock wheels with PS2 if I need to take a longer trip.

Update: I just ordered PS Cup + all around. I was thinking about just rears first, but if they're OE on 19" in Europe now, I figured I'd try them.

[argonboy]

Decided to post photos since we know there are some changes from the standard Pilot Sport Cup and everywhere I looked they had photos of the standard ones (without the +).

[footie]

Every M3 I have ever seen that's fitted with the 19" alloys are fitted with the CUP+ rubber.

This was true when I test drove an M3 prior to purchasing my own, the two examples sitting in the dealer's showroom and the one example sitting ready for collection by it's owner.

I can only assume that in the UK at least the M3 when ordered with 19" alloys comes with this rubber, or every one I have seen has been fitted with the M-Driver's pack.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Some UK cars are fitted with cup[+] rubber and some aren't. My 09MY on 19" came with PS2s.
There was some talk that the cup[+] tyres were developed for the M3 CSL and when the project was canned BMW started fitting the tyres to M3s with 19" wheels to get rid of them.

[Roaders]

Mine (ordered in the UK, 09) came with PS2s.

I had to get a replacement rear at the weekend and I was quoted £540 FOR ONE TYRE! fortunately this was for the cup tyres. A PS2 was £400 which is still a lot but not quite as bad. My insurance will pay out £300 per tyre so only cost me £100.