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[notouching]

I will soon need to replace the old PSS tires on my ZCP wheels. Going to keep the stock sizing - 245/35-19 front and 265/35-19 rear. I do not track the car and right now there are no plans to do so.

I was looking at what Tire Rack calls "Ultra High Performance All Season" tires, because it does get below freezing a couple of weeks a year here in Seattle, and usually stays around 40 degrees most of the time between November and late March-April.

From having PSS on the M3 and my old BRZ, my opinion of this tire is:
- great traction when warm (60+ degrees) both on dry and wet surface
- very noisy
- low traction in temps below 50 degrees, but still driveable

I am ready to sacrifice some summer traction for comfort (even though I understand it'll still be loud since I have 19" wheels) and cold weather performance. I would rather not have two sets of tires - one for winter and another for summer - because Seattle winters are not cold enough to warrant winter tires unless going to the mountains (we still have 50+ degree days sometimes in winter).

Tire Rack is offering me to consider Continental Extremecontact DWS 06
and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Anyone have experience with these? Any other tires I should consider?

Thank you!

[slowm3]

Could consider the new Michelin PS4S it is an improvement over the PSS, but both are a summer performance tires, and I'm not sure if you want that tire all year round. I had the Conti DWS and it was great in all weather even cold conditions and snow a few times up here in Vancouver, Canada.

[EJT86]

Do you have a problem with the PSS? Have you had any issues with them in winter? If not then why sacrifice anything

[jamba]

I've got the PS4S and I live in the Seattle area.

to me, they're significantly better than PASS (though I ran PSS last year and they've been fine in rain). that said, I have heard good things about the extreme contact sport contis.

I don't think you can go wrong with either of the 3.

[notouching]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Do you have a problem with the PSS? Have you had any issues with them in winter? If not then why sacrifice anything

Sliding in turns and on uphill starts when the temps are around freezing. Not sketchy to the point of being unsafe, but I'd prefer to have more confidence on cold days. Plus, they're definitely loud and that gets old on longer drives.

Seems like the going rate for a set of tires before install is around $900. If I'm paying the same price, might as well get something better.

Thanks for feedback everyone.

[pbonsalb]

Pilot Sport AS3 all season if you want the tire that’s better in cold and rain but decent in warm and dry Continental Extreme Contact Sport summer tire if you want a tire that is better in warm and dry but good in rain and cold. Old hard tires or worn tires won’t be as good as fresher tires in cold and rain and tires on these cars wear pretty quickly and for those of you that park your cars rather than drive them harden with age even though they still have plenty of tread. And summer tires won’t be as good as winter or all season tires in freezing weather simply due to the rubber compound. Choose your compromise or buy a 2nd set of wheels for winter. And be realistic — you probably don’t live on a race track and race your car at 9/10 regularly.

[EJT86]

could always add weight in the trunk during the winter while on summer tires to help out, or go up a size on all seasons to offset some of the grip loss during summer. sounds to me like your winter only lasts about a month or two idk if its worth it to go to all season tires, maybe just add like 60lbs into your trunk during the cold times

[SeattleLSB]

I’ve ran PSS all season and even down to 27 degrees!

Zero issues! Great rain traction!

I’ve also ran the Continental DWS on another car and they are pretty good and last longer than the PSS.

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by SeattleLSB

I’ve ran PSS all season and even down to 27 degrees!

Zero issues! Great rain traction!

I’ve also ran the Continental DWS on another car and they are pretty good and last longer than the PSS.

This^

Ive actually been running pss for the past two winters no issues. If it’s snowing out the m stays in the garage though

[dparm]

I'd get the Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Look at the performance numbers -- it basically matches the older PS2 summer tire (the OEM tire for the E92) in the dry but can also tolerate mild winter use. They're a pretty capable tire and for street use will give you plenty of performance if you want to hoon it a bit.

I don't like driving on summer tires when it's under 50 degrees, even on dry pavement. You can do it, but the tires will be way down on grip, will wear much faster, and are noisy. The ambient air temp isn't as much of a factor as the road temperature is. There were plenty of April days here in Chicago when the temps were up in the 60s or even 70s, but the ground was still pretty cold from the winter. The DSC would still randomly engage on dry pavement during moderate cornering.

[pbonsalb]

I have driven R compounds down to 30 degrees F. Definitely no benefit to sticky tires at that temp. All tires have a range. Ideally I would have 3 sets of wheels rather than 2.

[Drv4fun]

If you plan on driving in the winter rain, get a performance winter tire. Its about safety. In the fall when you switch from summer to winter you will notice immediately the winter tire grip-its like teeth into the road! Get a set of square 18’s wheels, you don’t need staggered winter tires.

[notouching]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

If you plan on driving in the winter rain, get a performance winter tire. Its about safety. In the fall when you switch from summer to winter you will notice immediately the winter tire grip-its like teeth into the road! Get a set of square 18’s wheels, you don’t need staggered winter tires.

What is winter rain? 40 degrees and raining? I think an all-season tire should be fine for this.

Originally Posted by dparm

I'd get the Pilot Sport A/S 3+. Look at the performance numbers -- it basically matches the older PS2 summer tire (the OEM tire for the E92) in the dry but can also tolerate mild winter use. They're a pretty capable tire and for street use will give you plenty of performance if you want to hoon it a bit.

I don't like driving on summer tires when it's under 50 degrees, even on dry pavement. You can do it, but the tires will be way down on grip, will wear much faster, and are noisy. The ambient air temp isn't as much of a factor as the road temperature is. There were plenty of April days here in Chicago when the temps were up in the 60s or even 70s, but the ground was still pretty cold from the winter. The DSC would still randomly engage on dry pavement during moderate cornering.

Thank you. I'll be getting either Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Conti DWS 06, they sound fairly similar.

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by notouching

What is winter rain? 40 degrees and raining? I think an all-season tire should be fine for this.



Thank you. I'll be getting either Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Conti DWS 06, they sound fairly similar.

Winter rain-when its been raining for a month and you’ve forgotten what the sun looks like (as it does in the Pacific Northwest).

Please remember that an “all season” tire is a compromise its not a summer tire nor a winter tire. However if you do not want two sets either of those two will work well-as they are better than most summer tires.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by notouching

What is winter rain? 40 degrees and raining? I think an all-season tire should be fine for this.



Thank you. I'll be getting either Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Conti DWS 06, they sound fairly similar.

The DWS is an old tire at this point. You can do better.

[Theodore]

OP, if you haven't already seen it, check out this comparison:

[Dreamer99]

I'll be getting either Pilot Sport A/S 3+ or Conti DWS 06, they sound fairly similar.

I've had both on my car this winter and both are great in the rain and are acceptable in light snow on flat roads. The A/S3+ is more performance oriented in dry conditions but are stiffer and noisier. You have to decide of you want more performance or more of a cruiser when comparing these two tires.

[Montaver]

I've been running the A/S3+ this winter, very impressed with the tire. I initially bought them as an intermediate winter (I dont really go out in snow as my M3 is a weekend fun car) so I still could do some spirited winter driving on warmer days which isnt really possible on Blizzaks, PA4's etc. Also means if it does get cold and you need to get somewhere its no issue.

Even under spirited driving the AS/3+feel excellent. Compared to my PS4S summers the sidewall marginally softer but still firm, and they have a tendency to 'shriek' a little more at the limit. They feel very progressive and confidence inspiring even at freezing and below. Honestly unless your tracking or auto x, the AS/3+ you could easily run all year round and be very happy with.

I'd also wager they have equal or better performance than some less expensive extreme performance summer tires people run (Conti DW, Ventus V12), or older ones like the PS2's.

[notouching]

How is road noise on A/S3+ and DWS 06?
I am hoping for something quieter than PSS.

[pbonsalb]

Quieter than old worn out PSS or new PSS?

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by notouching

How is road noise on A/S3+ and DWS 06?
I am hoping for something quieter than PSS.

I had a set of worn Conti DW's (not DWS) when I bought the car, they had an odd pulsating humming sound but I wouldnt say they were loud. I'd say the AS/3+ sounds pretty much identical to a set of new PS4S, I wouldnt say they were loud either but depends what your tolerance is. The DWS06 has the softest sidewall which may help its road noise.

If your buying new all seasons I see no reason not to get the AS/3+, newer tyre compound, handles significantly better than the DWS06, equal cold / snow performance.

[R3dliner]

A/S 3 +. Mines pretty damn quiet.
After 10k miles my fronts are still 9/32 and rears 7/32.