CAR & DRIVER TIRE TESTS...FINALLY | FerrariChat

CAR & DRIVER TIRE TESTS...FINALLY

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by HOBE456, Jun 29, 2012.

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  1. HOBE456

    HOBE456 Karting

    Apr 27, 2012
    168
    Hobe Sound, FL
    Full Name:
    Tom
    Finally finally finally, my new Car & Driver arrived with the test we've all been
    waiting for: The best summer tires and here are the results:

    9. PIRELLI P ZERO they didn't like this tire "struggled with understeer and post grip
    recovery was noticeably worse than most of the other tires"

    8. DUNLOP DIREZZA SPORT Z1 STAR SPEC too much understeer balance and
    lacks grip

    7. TOYO PROXES R1R lacked an abundance of grip and so-so remarks from testers

    6. GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC 2 performed strangely ..less braking control in dry than in wet.. worst dry grip...no great inspirer of driving confidence

    5. CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DW handiest tire on the autocross...top honors in ride comfort and noise and least expensive at $133

    4. HANKOOK VENTUS R-S3 second most affordable...super dry stopping numbers..
    tied the Yoko for best dry skidpad ...similar to the Michelin on the autocross but
    worst wet autocross lap time

    3. YOKOHAMA ADVAN NEOVA AD08 super times in autocross.. the winner ..dry performance was strong.. but not so great in the wet. seemed louder than ratings and ride was pretty firm

    2. BRIDGESTONE POTENZA S-04 POLE POSITION easy to drive ..no mind blowing traits, just solid performance all around...top score in quietness.. second in braking

    AND THE WINNER IS: (no surprise here)

    1.MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORT "Two years ago, Ferrari launched the 458 Italia a few months before Michelin released it Pilot Super Sport (PSS). Because Ferrari wanted the PSS for the 456 but Michelin didn't want to preempt its own release, some of the early 458's were delivered on "Michelin Pilot Sport Ps2" tires. Those were actually PSS's".

    Praised for its steering precision in the wet ..most lateral grip in the wet.. felt firm and planted on the dry autocross ..best balance of wet and dry performance they've ever experienced testing.
     
  2. Drive550PFB

    Drive550PFB Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    I love the Bridgestone.
     
  3. thoang

    thoang Formula 3
    Owner

    Apr 12, 2004
    1,990
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    Tuan Hoang
    I'm surprised Hankook placed so strongly.
     
  4. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    I had SuperSports on my S5 and loved them. As soon as the PZeros on m 991S wear out, they will be replaced with SuperSports
     
  5. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,294
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    I just put super sports on my Cayman S replacing the PS2s. I haven't had a chance to really try them out yet but initial impressions are positive. I will be track testing it 7/8 however.

    Dave
     
  6. Redneck Slim

    Redneck Slim Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Mar 10, 2011
    1,651
    Palo Alto,CA,USA
    Full Name:
    Walt Kimball
    The RE-11,the Corsa,and the F1 Supercar G:2 should have been included.
     
  7. Buckynsparty

    Buckynsparty Karting

    Jan 23, 2012
    172
    MI/AZ
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Just replaced my Pilot Sorts on my M3 with Super Sports ( today), and so far impressions are VERY positive!
     
  8. Spdrcrj

    Spdrcrj Formula 3
    BANNED

    Apr 22, 2006
    1,101
    Full Name:
    Jim
    I wish they included the RE-11's too. Will replace with my Rosso's with them but would have been nice to see a comparison to the PSS's. I really want the michelin's but I don't want any taller sidewalls in the rear.
     
  9. ScreaminRevs

    ScreaminRevs Formula Junior

    Apr 4, 2004
    411
    Chicago
    PSS ranks high in the wet, otherwise it's inferior to a lot of the other high-grip tires in the dry. Who pushes their car to its limits in the wet (where limits are so much lower vs dry surface)?
     
  10. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    I have put over 13,000 miles on these^^^ on my 355, and I don't have any complaints (dry or wet) with them.

    However....I will be replacing them with Michelin PSS's next year. :)
     
  11. babyboo

    babyboo Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Feb 28, 2012
    496
    Nsuburban Chicago
    Full Name:
    Baby Boo
    Nobody pushes their cars to the limit in the wet. But what if you have to perform an avoidence maneuver on wet ground through no fault of your own? The added wet traction would be much appreciated.
     
  12. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2010
    1,646
    Zürich (Switzerland)
    Full Name:
    Markus
    I have PSS on my 575M with more than 6 000 km on them. They last much longer as the P Zeros did and stick better in the dry as in the wet. Before I had 3 sets of P Zeros on the car that lasted only between 4 000 and 5 000 km per set.

    Markus
     
  13. msos

    msos Formula Junior

    Jul 11, 2004
    260
    S. FL
    Full Name:
    Mike S
    +1, have them for about a year, love them vs. old Pilot Sports
     
  14. Need4Spd

    Need4Spd F1 Veteran

    Feb 24, 2007
    6,678
    Silicon Valley
    How many Ferrari owners drive in the rain at all? Dry grip and predictable handling were tips on my list. For a touring car, though, I would definitely want superior performance wet and dry, as well as ride quiet.
     
  15. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 26, 2010
    1,646
    Zürich (Switzerland)
    Full Name:
    Markus
    #15 Elsi, Jun 30, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I do, even in snow (see pic below).

    But I agree: dry handling is on top of the list by far.

    Markus
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. jhietter

    jhietter Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2009
    418
    California
    Full Name:
    John
    Interesting results. I guess the Michelins really do live up to their reputation. I haven't used any extreme summer tires but I have had the Bridgestone RE-050A Pole Positions and absolutely loved them. I had never been passionate about a tire until having these on my car. The dry grip is superb and the wet weather grip is the most planted I have ever felt driving in the rain, as good if not better than grip in dry conditions.
     
  17. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,721
    I have driven my F355 through 2 solid days of 2" per hour of rain on a 1000 mile journey from Texas to WV. Not fun, but no troubles.

    I have, also, driven my car in 1" per hour rain at TWS (slip sliding away.) It is a lot easier to learn a cars handling characterisitics in the rain than in the dry. And in the rain, at least when you loose it, you have a small enough amount of energy in the car, you can save it befor you hit something.
     
  18. ScreaminRevs

    ScreaminRevs Formula Junior

    Apr 4, 2004
    411
    Chicago
    If it were my 360CS or Carrera GT or Zonda I'd make it a point to either A)never take them out in the wet, or B) if I did, I'd definitely tone down my speed in anticipation of an emergency maneuver like you mentioned....all while staying on the best dry grip rubber, which, incidentally, have grooves anyway for that very reason.
    Sure, but touring cars don't need A048s or RE-11s or P Zero Corsas; they'll make do with A/S high performance tires, which are more than enough performance for them as they are not as pure as the aforementioned machinery.
     
  19. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
    Moderator

    Oct 1, 2008
    40,009
    Huntsville, AL., USA
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    With regard to the understeer comments by the reviewers... won't it depend very much on what car you have and how it's set up as to which tire will perform marginally better than another? As is plain to see if F1, one team can really make a tire work and another team on exactly the same compound can comparatively struggle. I wonder if the general characteristics observed for a specific tire are only relevant to you if the car used to do the test is identical to your own (including suspension options).

    Other measures such as stopping distances in a straight line do seem far more objective. :)

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  20. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,673
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    I'd live to see the statistical regression between advertising spend over time and performance results.

    Pretty linear, I'll bet.
     
  21. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,294
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    I haeven driven Ferraris in rain a lot. They are just fine. But I do not push them. I have a lot of respect for wet roads. All you have to do is hit an oily spot with water on top and bad things can happen quickly.

    Dave
     
  22. tonyswfla

    tonyswfla Formula Junior

    Dec 2, 2007
    823
    Florida
    tires are only as good as the guy behind you.....
     
  23. Redneck Slim

    Redneck Slim Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Mar 10, 2011
    1,651
    Palo Alto,CA,USA
    Full Name:
    Walt Kimball
    I like to push it to the limit in the wet on the back roads because I can have fun at speeds that are slower and safer. I've been doing this since Goodyear came out with the first high-performance tire that had big grip in the wet--the GS-C-- two decades ago. Since then,other tiremakers have joined in and the selection has gotten better and better. Today I use a Subaru STi with RE-11s. I plan to try the Michelin Super Sport next.
     
  24. G. Pepper

    G. Pepper Three Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 15, 2012
    38,374
    Texas/Colorado
    Full Name:
    George Pepper
    I put Nitto INVO's on my 456M and love them (Note that I have 18" Barchetta modular wheels). Smooth, quiet, sticky enough for a GT, and nice wet performance on the one time I got caught in the rain. Have 2K miles on them and they still look almost new. WAY better than the P-Zero's that came on the car, but they were ancient and hard.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  25. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
    12,313
    At Sea Level
    This. I haven't read the article,... but what car/cars were used in the test?

    :D
     

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