Rear Tire Blowout

[jimmy3530]

Hi everyone:

I had a rear tire blowout on my way in to work today (steel plates in road....grrrr) and since I use my car as a daily driver (2000 C4 996)I need to get it fixed fast. Here is my situation:

I have Pirelli PZero's N3's all around which are all worn and due for a change. I would like to swap ALL them out for either:

Option1: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N3 ($$$$)

Option 2: Michelin Pilot SuperSport (cheaper, better rating at Tirerack)

Option 3: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season Plus

So, two questions:

1. How important is that N3 designation? The TSB for approved summer tires seems to make me think that I can't run any rubber other than N2, N3, N4 etc.

2. Anyone like all season tires. I live in the Washington DC area and we get little snow here....a set of dedicated snows seems like overkill.

Thanks for your help!!!!

[DBJoe996]

I did quite a bit of research and ended up with the Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus for my 99 Carrera. I was not so much into outright performance as I was with quality, price and wear. They have been perfect for my DD, look good and are wearing like iron. Tires have 20,000 miles on them and show almost no wear whatsoever....even the inside tread of the rears. I love the way they grip in the rain and I feel safe. They are quiet even with the AS. Love them so much I replaced the tires on the wife's Mini with the exact same thing. Get an alignment check once the tires are on and drive, drive, drive! And, I think it goes like this, the N1's are older models, the N4's being the newest latest generation. I have been totally satisfied with my decision, but then again, I'm not seeking track performance or sustained high speed capabilities, just safety, wearability and reliability. That's my two cents.....

[jimmy3530]

Thanks for your opinion...I also agree with your points regarding quality, price and wear.

[kgoertz]

There are strong rumours that the Pilot Supersport will get the N rating in the near future. There are lots of discussions on the topic that can easily be found by searching here and on google.

The SuperSport tire is substantially cheaper than the PS2, has a better wear rating, and is generally rated higher performance than the PS2 in every category. I switched from PS2 to the SuperSport two years ago and I'm still happy with the decision. Tire wear is noticeably better and they handle better both on the street and on the track. I'm not quite convinced that the wet performance is better though. The PS2s seemed to corner like on rails even in the wet but I can definitely get the SuperSports to break loose. That could always be due to my improved driving confidence though :-)

They are completely useless in the cold and snow though. I don't drive my car in the winter, but I tried them on a cold day with a light snow covering once and was barely able to get the car back in the driveway.

I'd definitely recommend the SuperSports over the PS2s even though the SuperSports aren't N-rated yet. But if you are driving in cold temperatures and/or snow and aren't buying snow tires then definitely go for the A/S Plus.

[jimmy3530]

Just an update to this thread. I ended up installing 4 Michelin Pilot Sport All Season Plus tires and I can't believe the difference from my older, worn PZero's. I know All-Season's are a comprimise, but since I use the car as a daily driver in DC, to me anyway, they made the most sense. They've actually made my commute that much more enjoyable....especially at this time of the year!