Looking for new rubber to replace fairly tired looking Zeros on the FF. They've done around 10k miles now. Is the consensus to stick with Pirelli or are the optional Michelin Pilot Supersports better? Can't see point of Sottozeros for UK winter here in the south, it's just overkill - and the Zeros handled the light snow last year no problem... Thoughts folks?
I am looking for the best winter tires possible for these brutal Canadian winters. Are Sotto Zeros my best option?
Richard, Many have their preferences. I had Pirelli P-Zeros on my last FF which handled everything I threw at it. My current FF has Michelins and I can't tell any difference whatsoever. I haven't driven them over winter yet, but imagine they'll be as capable as the Pirellis. I've never tried Sottozeros so can't comment, but living in Kent, I've never needed anything more than standard tyres. I'd imagine you'd have no choice but to use Sottozeros in Canada! Mac.
I'd really like at some point to take the FF on a proper road trip to the Arctic circle. Think proper winter rubber will be needed for that one though...
Mac, I have the Michelins on my FF. I was told by my dealer that the P Zero has a slightly softer compound and might be marginally better at lower temperatures. Also that the Pirelli might be quieter. I'd be interested to get your feedback. No rush though as i'd rather keep the mild temperatures we're having for a while longer!.
Love the P Zeros, have them on my Maserati as well but the sotto zeros don't do the right size. The fronts are 235 and the rears are 285 whereas Michellins do a winter at 295 and 245 which I have just received for my trip to Brugge for the new year beer festival.
I took little research regarding winter tires for FF. I am quite shocked with high price of winter tyres compared to summer tires for FF.
Idea on winter tires is to go with a narrower width in order to mitigate sliding/spinning as such tire would have more weight per cm2 of contact with ground. if you look at the OE recommended size for winter they are one size down in width. I run sotto zero's on all my cars (except F12) from oct - march and love them
Yes, fantastic in snow. I hit quite a few storms last season go in into France (alps), could not have felt safer or been happier. However if anyone knows I a better winter tire please do advise. I know Nokian make very good tires but not sure if they do the sizes a new for FF's
Understand the physics behind the the logic but in practice 3.3% less tread width on the rears and under 5% on the fronts makes little impact as the side wall angle on the narrower tyre serves to make the rim edge more exposed during cornering due to deflection and kerb attack during parking. Grip in compacted snow may well be assessed to be fractionally improved with narrower tread footprint and yes the extra 5 kilos over the whole revised footprint makes for a good argument in the lab but in practice the footprint is hardly changed as the side wall / corner block section distorts in an effort to support the unchanged weight plus any perceptible difference would be offset by the increased risk to the rims. In my opinion, of course.
I live way up in the UK north and put Sottozeros on my 458 and 911 from Nov to April. They are truly excellent. They'll be going on my F12 when it arrives this winter too. Only really come into their own below 7° though.
Fully agree with winter tyres my point was as good as Soto zeros undeniably are Michellins now do a winter mud and snow tyre with 168 mph rating at the 295 and 245 widths which in my opinion fit the rims better. I'm trying them this winter for the first time so hope they perform at least as well as my sotozeros have in the past. Porsche do not reduce width for winter tyres, at least my 911 cab doesn't......I think?
My reference was to the percentage of reduced tread width from 295 to 285 and 245 to 235. Not trying to make a point but Ferrari reccommended the Sotozeros before they accepted Michellin as standard option on the FF 2014. Pirelli do not make a 295 soto so maybe Ferrari were happy to accept the 285 as a winter option. I wish they did.....all my cars run Pzeros
On the front, it's 9,5% smaller and 8,7% smaller on the rears - if comparing PZero to Sottozero. The number on the side of the tyre does not tell a whole lot about the actual tyre spec. It just puts the tyre in a class of size. Tread width, section width and even diameter can vary quite a bit. As for winter tyres being narrow, that makes a lot of sense. It will go through slush and snow easier, and not to try to "climb" grooves from other cars. It will grab ice much better as the higher pressure over a narrower tread patch will allow the sharp slats to bite harder. But as far as front to rear bias goes, it should be roughly the same. Our 458 has MPSS on it, and I think it drives and rides better than those I've driven with PZero's. My DD 991 came with PZero's. I got tired of the noise and rough nature of them, so I switched to MPSS and could not be happier. More quiet, and better traction and handling in all conditions.
