Michelin Pilot Sport 3

[Ent]

Hi All

As a newbie to this site forgive me if I started a thread already around. I have an original BA XR6 Turbo Automatic (at that stage the manuals were rather "when" rather than "if" it will implode). The original Dunlop 3000A tyres lasted around 45,000 km and quite happy so replaced again and got 55,000 km out of the new set with still more life left if was not coming into a Tassie winter.

After numerous amount of research decided due to the Dunlops now not been made in Australia and a bit long in the tooth as a design to go to the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres. They have the next step up in speed and load rating plus better wear at 320 versus 240 and traction of AA compared to A ratings. Just had them fitted so barely a kilometre old but be interesting to see how they go. I am stuffed where they are made as this information appears to be now secret squirrel stuff. Found interesting when reading the XR6 forums that a particular model Goodyear tyre got rave reviews from posters and then was later slammed. After a bit of forum flame wars it turned out that the new batch came from China while the original batch was German. Found out from local tyre shop when they researched the matter that the next lot will be coming out of Germany or not at all. This suggests that not all factories are equal in production quality despite the hype.

Anyway, first impressions. Tread pattern is, well, err, um, rather boring. The only immediate thing noticeable in the one kilometre to work was the somewhat lighter steering inputs. The XR6 Turbo is rather truck like in its power steering but now feels somewhat lighter.

Anyway if interested I will post some more.

Cheers

Edited 11/05/11 02:35 AM by Ent

[Benny]

Tread designs of Michelins are nearly always a boring looking pattern but doesn't seem to effect their performance. Same goes for Pirelli. Interesting how the price of the new Pilot Sports has reduced significantly compared to the previous PS2's.

Benny.

[Ent]

It does suggest that often style can play a big part in selling a performance tyre. Michelin being one of the oldest and originator of the radial tyre would know what works and what does not so maybe a big chunky tread pattern is bit more marketing than performance. One thing is certain the traction, wear, load and speed rating are very impressive. Cost was $1,010 for four fitted balanced and wheel alignment done. Could but not help but notice that Dunlop and Goodyear equivalents were about half the Australian price in the USA while Michelins were much closer to Australian pricing. Does suggest that a bit of price gouging is going on by at least those two big companies.

I believe that the Pro Sport 3 is not a direct replacement for the tyre that you mentioned with some less hard core specifications suggesting it is made to slightly lower specification so hence cheaper. Still it is an impressive specification tyre and the extra load rating is worthwhile considering, more so for the heavier V8 versions of the Falcon.

On the weekend highway trip planned so be interested to see if any reduction in noise and change in fuel economy. Also plan a little country road run so watching to see if they turn in better. The XR6 Turbo can be a bit of a tank on windy roads with a strong feeling of a lot of weight but not much grip. I believe Top Gear Australia made the comment that the Holdens have greater adhesion but the Fords feel to have the better suspension design just let down a bit by the tyre choice. Many, many years ago I owned a Camira and found while the standard Goodyear tyres were ok a swap to Michelins with a much higher load rating gave huge more grip and much less tyre squeal. Figured that the Michelins were better designed for the front wheel drive while the Goodyear (Grand Rally S) more suited to a lighter rear wheel drive Sigma.

As you may gather I tend to think that the manufacturer should know best but I think Ford chose the Dunlop 3000a to be a good all round tyre rather than a performance tyre. One thing is the suspension feels it can handle much more grip.

Cheers

Edited 20/05/11 06:05 AM by hiddeous
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[spic]

  On 11/05/2011 at 2:34 AM, Ent said:

Hi All

As a newbie to this site forgive me if I started a thread already around. I have an original BA XR6 Turbo Automatic (at that stage the manuals were rather "when" rather than "if" it will implode). The original Dunlop 3000A tyres lasted around 45,000 km and quite happy so replaced again and got 55,000 km out of the new set with still more life left if was not coming into a Tassie winter.

After numerous amount of research decided due to the Dunlops now not been made in Australia and a bit long in the tooth as a design to go to the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres. They have the next step up in speed and load rating plus better wear at 320 versus 240 and traction of AA compared to A ratings. Just had them fitted so barely a kilometre old but be interesting to see how they go. I am stuffed where they are made as this information appears to be now secret squirrel stuff. Found interesting when reading the XR6 forums that a particular model Goodyear tyre got rave reviews from posters and then was later slammed. After a bit of forum flame wars it turned out that the new batch came from China while the original batch was German. Found out from local tyre shop when they researched the matter that the next lot will be coming out of Germany or not at all. This suggests that not all factories are equal in production quality despite the hype.

Anyway, first impressions. Tread pattern is, well, err, um, rather boring. The only immediate thing noticeable in the one kilometre to work was the somewhat lighter steering inputs. The XR6 Turbo is rather truck like in its power steering but now feels somewhat lighter.

Anyway if interested I will post some more.

Cheers

I've done 17K in my Pilot Sport 3's and they are stuffed. I got 30k out of the original Dunlops and am quite disapointed with the wear on the SP3's. From a performance perspective they are a great tyre especially in the wet and they seem to get up to temperture extremely quickly but will not be getting them again due to the short life. I spose it's the old trade off grip versus life!!

[Ent]

Hi Spic

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. With a wear rating of 320 versus 240 of the original tires I would assumed if anything that they would have lasted longer. O'well time will tell. Still have not been able to see where they are made.

Cheers Brett

Edited 20/05/11 06:06 AM by hiddeous
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[Superoo]

I have had the PS3's on a Mondeo diesel for around 15K and I can confirm they are wearing fast. Will be lucky to get another 10K out of them. I have Michelin Pilot Preceda PP2's on the XR6T and they are wearing much better. The performance of the PS3's is quite impressive and they are brilliant in the wet but the wear is disappointing. Unfortunately, I don't think the wear rating manufacturers supply is standardised so you can't really read much into them.

[Ent]

The Mondeo diesel is not exactly a tyre shredding monster so does not look promising. Comparing tyres is a black art by the look of it. I would have assumed that the tread wear rating would be a standardised test, and yes a bit suspect but not by the factors already mentioned. Given Tassie's climate wet weather performance is promising so at least some good news.

Cheers

Edited 20/05/11 06:07 AM by hiddeous
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[Ent]

Hi All

Well a highway run tonight. A very quite tyres which is a real bonus. About two notches lower on the sound system level at 110 Km/ph. The Turbo never to me felt like a car that liked changing direction quickly but now is very light and agile. When misting rain fell I noticed no change in traction at sensible speeds and driving. Actually found the car rather unfussy to drive and unwittingly going into corners about 5 to 10 km/ph than normal. Basically it drives so well you naturally tend to head into corners faster. This might explain people's higher than expected wear rates as they are unknowing pushing a bit harder. I will be curious what site users find if they go from these tyres to other brands. On light breaking you get a strong feeling of plenty of grip.

In all very happy so far. A far superior tyre to the originals which were not a bad tyre in the first place.

Cheers Brett

[spic]

No disputing their are a great performance tyre and yes unknowing you do probably drive the T a bit harder but I can't justify a 50% reduction in life. One strange behaviour I found with this tyre is when you get on the F3 freeway from Pennant Hills there is a stretch where the road is concrete and has grooves in it well you find that the back end of the car start to get a slow wobble where it follows the grooves and moves from side to side. Not a nice feeling, I've not experienced this with any other car or tyre. It's not all bad just enjoy the grip while you got it :3gears:

Edited 20/05/11 06:08 AM by hiddeous
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[Ent]

Hi

Well settling in period done. Survived local low lives attempts to destroy wheels by scattering pavers/bricks on a few streets in Devonport. Very agile response saved tyre and rim damage. Must see if State Government will re-active Sara Island for re-education of such individuals.

Took the beast on my favourite country road for getting the feel for things. This section of road is typical Tassie country road with sharp corners, connected by undulating road with a road surface, rather bumpy and indifferent, in places. If it was dead smooth then super car test track but in current conditions it catches suspension and grip out, all within the stated country speed limit. Result excellent. There was no squirming as the tyres sought grip and the softer ride meant that they followed the irregularities in the surface without fault. The XR6 has smooth ride until it crashes into the bump stops and in the past one section was lift off to save this happening. With the new tyres speed travelled meant I struck this a few times more. The tyres are just so unfazed that you find yourself at least twenty KM/PH above the speed of the Dunlops SP3000a. I came to a very tight corner and decided to turn in a bit more expecting the usual front drift bordering on under-steer. No just went straight in so I had to wind back the turn in. Response excellent to steering inputs. One strange feeling though was with the rear suspension. In a previous car when I went for rim and tyre upgrade the rear end wobbled which was traced to rear dampers nearing the end of their best performance, still ok but getting near replacement. Much the same feeling. Normally in the XR6 Turbo it is the front end that I concentrate on with the rear obediently following along behind. With these tyres the car suddenly felt like all four wheels mattered. Rear dampers otherwise felt great but on this rough surface turn the tyres held and rear suspension "walked". I wonder if it is a hidden trait of the control blade set-up as I have never struck it before. It was just this one corner and did not repeat on the other ones. Curious feeling and one that will lead me to getting the rear dampers tested.

Anyway packed up last night for my drive back from Devonport to Launceston. Most of my highway driving is done at night. Cruise control on and sound system at cruise level and let the car do the work. This means wildlife can catch you out at times. Sure enough a manic depressed small what looked like Forester kangaroo, which is strange as I believe that they are not on the North West Coast, stoically held its ground as the low beam lights picked it up. Instinct swerve happened which in the past meant not much happening as I have never been happy to throw the Falcon around. With the new tyres it nibblely responded and quickly turned to re-turn back to where the car should be. Result one furry animal unharmed and hopefully wiser with road sense.

I am wrapped with the tyres handling and grip especially the change in direction ability plus their ability to bite into the road when breaking. However for me the XR6 has always been a cruiser rather than a racer so I am over the moon with the quietness. Aussie sixes have never been brilliant with controlling road noise and more than a few occasions when going for a sporty tyre I quickly get the felling of "oh what have a done" as they tram-line and roar down the rough surfaces that are called highways in Tassie. These tyres are very smooth and quiet to the point CD selection changed to recordings with greater dynamic range as before soft passages just got lost in the road noise. The Dunlop SP3000a were not ridiculously noisy but on the blue metal chip roads just laid they were not exactly silent. It is the improve NVH rating that make me more than anything rave about the Michelins.

The tyres meet the main criterion of a performance type, they perform! Now the deal maker or breaker for me will be wear rates. At the mentioned 17,000 Km they would be great tyres for the more wealthy but sadly not be re-fitted with me. At 30,000 Km I would accept the low mileage as a worthwhile trade off to the handling and braking performance but grumble. At 40,000 km automatic refitting would be the result. Now I got 45,000km out of the original SP3000a and 55,000Km from the next set with probably another safe 5,000 km with 10,000km legal of wear so I am not hard on tyres.

Now the next test is kilometres and that will take hopefully two years before I report back on that aspect.

Cheers

Edited 16/05/11 12:37 AM by Ent