Michelin tires or not | FerrariChat

Michelin tires or not

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by LI488, Apr 14, 2017.

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  1. LI488

    LI488 Rookie

    Mar 18, 2017
    11
    Long Island, NY
    I am currently ordering my 488 spider....is it worth specifying Michelin tires since it may slow down the cars production if they are not available?...any thoughts
     
  2. ls2imprs

    ls2imprs Rookie

    Jan 12, 2016
    35
    la canada, CA
    Full Name:
    Alex Megerdi
    amazing tires, i have them on my 458
     
    docf likes this.
  3. boobernackle

    boobernackle Formula Junior

    May 28, 2016
    963
    I would say go for them, I did the same on my 488 GTB and it had no difference on delivery time and I'm picking mine up from the dealer tomorrow. I recall dealer having to make a few phone calls to the factory, but nothing out of the ordinary as it was not showing up as an option when specifying the car.
     
  4. 458trofeo

    458trofeo F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2013
    4,426
    City of Angels
    Full Name:
    101 aki
    Absolutely!!!

    Personally, it's Michelins or nothing on all my cars.

    very best
     
    docf and Roland1688 like this.
  5. REALZEUS

    REALZEUS F1 Veteran

    Feb 16, 2011
    8,367
    Bournemouth, UK
    Never liked the Michelins. Way too soft and not in a good way. Always prefer the equivalent Pirellis or Bridgestones. That said, the PS4S seems good.
     
  6. Tireman

    Tireman Karting

    Nov 13, 2011
    208
    Canada
    All the offered tires are good and are tested (homologated) by Ferrari before being made available.. at this level (general use) it is about mostly brand preferences.
    All 3 companies make excellent products
     
  7. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    When you pose any question, people will always have an opinion.
    In a question such as yours, I am surprised that people don't refer to actual info on the subject. Meaning group tire tests on the same car on the same day.
    You can read "hard" data that tells you about various tires' strengths and weaknesses. Then you can decide which tire is right for your kind of driving.
    Refering to such prior tests - MPS4 not out yet - the Michelin had the best dry road cornering performance. This was true in every test I have read. Can it be realistically extrapolated to Ferrari? Will you ever notice the difference? Then you get into opinion.
    In addition to going to Road and Track or Car and Driver archives to get this info, you can go to The Tirerack.com. You will see lots of facts and opinions about said tires.
    My real world experience and therefore "opinion" is that I have loved every set of Michelin tires I have had. In all honesty though, when my spider tires go I am thinking of switching to Trofeo Rs. A complete waste on the street. Based on my mileage, lack of wet weather driving, warm climate and just plain curiosity I am considering this as the only option. If the Michelin Cup 2 tires become available in my size I will pass on the Tofeo Rs.
    Best
     
  8. wandrest

    wandrest Rookie

    Dec 6, 2016
    1
    I'm dealing in my Porsche GT3 to get the 488 GTB in July if everything's going like scheduled. My best experiences on road and track were with Michelin Cup 2 Tyres, except in the very wet. Under rainy conditions you have to be especially careful but I live with this weakness. Therefore I would like to get the Cup 2 just from the start on my new 488. Has everyone be already successful with the same demand?

    In Germany the Carmagazin "Sportauto" tested the 488 with Cup 2 tyres and they wrote these tyres were "an option". In line with the journalistic rules they had'nt used the semi-slicks without being a regular delivery by Ferrari. So far the theory.
     
  9. CarAholic

    CarAholic Formula Junior

    May 10, 2016
    519
    Michelins hands down


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. abz

    abz Formula 3

    Aug 27, 2006
    1,439
    PA
    Full Name:
    Al
    Ordered Michelins on my spider.
     
  11. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
    14,259
    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
    Full Name:
    Mel
    I can support Randy in his aproach ...

    BTW, the Michelin Pilot Spot 4 S is now available (in Europe) but has no Ferrari approval yet.

    It's the letter K on the outside of the tyre(wall) In my case that was the reason not yet apply the 4S but MPSS K3.

    Front MPSS's only have approval K1.
     
  12. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
    14,259
    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
    Full Name:
    Mel
  13. LI488

    LI488 Rookie

    Mar 18, 2017
    11
    Long Island, NY
    Thanks for all your input and advice!
     
  14. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 11, 2013
    11,510
    I think some of this is due to how the companies engineer their tires to feel. I much prefer the Michelin tires and you can put me in the "Michelin or nothing" camp. That being said, I've had Pirelli tires that I've really enjoyed. But if given the choice, I would pick Michelin and I would wait for them.
     
  15. 458dreamer

    458dreamer Formula Junior

    Jul 3, 2012
    762
    Dubai
    Tires become a factor only once we start driving the car to at least 80-90% of its limits. For the majority of us it is a non issue as road users only. For those that track the car, and track it hard "which tires?" becomes a relevant question.
     
  16. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 11, 2013
    11,510
    I know what you are getting at, but I'm not so sure I agree. I can feel the differences between the PZeros and MPSS. For me, most Pirelli tires feel like they are riding over the road while the Michelins feel like they are digging into the road. I like that better. I think these companies are very good and some of this is simply playing to brand image.

    I actually think if I am tracking the car, while there might be some differences in street tires, they will behave similarly enough that I would not really care.
     
  17. theocracer

    theocracer Rookie

    Mar 18, 2016
    29
    Upland Ca.
    Full Name:
    RockBottom
    P-Zero's all the way
     
  18. xfrgtr

    xfrgtr Karting

    Jul 20, 2011
    97
  19. BlueIn2Red

    BlueIn2Red Karting

    Sep 29, 2006
    234
    Tring, UK
    I wouldn't slow down delivery of my car, just for tyres. But I am impatient!
     
  20. Xrayv8

    Xrayv8 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2004
    992
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Xray
    I got the Pirellis on my 488 Spider last summer (since my 458 has the Michelins) and regretted it. So this past Spring had them switched out to Michelins and what a difference.

    As others have said with the Pirellis, the car feels like it floating on the road whereas Michelin stick to the road better and have greater confidence driving it.
     
  21. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
    14,259
    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
    Full Name:
    Mel
    A better advice of a 488 driver is hardly possible imo LI488 ....
     
  22. bberg009

    bberg009 Karting

    Jan 23, 2016
    233
    Full Name:
    Cancelled my account
    Go for p-zeros if you can afford them (bloody expensive), but Micheline if price is an issue (good grip, but not great).. had both on my 458'spider..
     
  23. BG23

    BG23 Formula Junior

    Jun 16, 2015
    443
    Australia
    Michelin pilot super sports set a new benchmark back in 2011 for great tyres that are also driveable in the wet, Pirelli have only just caught up with their new P-Zero. But I am told the new 4S from Michelin has once again set a new benchmark.

    In my experience Pirelli vs Michelin, Michelin wins almost every time.
     
  24. spiders

    spiders Formula Junior

    Jun 8, 2012
    474
    I wouldn't specify tires, unless I was prepared to delay production. Michelin or Pirelli - it makes little difference in the overall picture.
     
  25. 360spydr

    360spydr Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2010
    280
    Reno/Tahoe NV, Seattle WA and Portland OR
    Full Name:
    KJ
    So I'm looking for tires for the 458 spider and trying to figure out what's different between the Michelin Ferrari "k spec" (K1, K2, K3) tires and the "standard" Pilot Super Sports. OK Google, tell me all. Found this great post with pics and differences on the bimmer chat site:

    Michelin PSS 245/35/20 and 285/30/20 "K1" Ferrari Spec vs Normal

    Quite informative and thought I'd post it up for those like me trying to find new tires...
     

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