Cornering: Potenza's VS Pilot Sport PS2 on the Nismo
 

Is anyone running PS2's on their Nismo? or has used both brands in the past. I really want to get the best cornering potential out of the car, but not die in the process.

From my research I have found these two to be the best street tire on the market before you get into "street legal slicks". However I live in MA and it gets cold quick. I know that the Potenza's get a little hairy in the rain, and cold and awful in the snow. How are the PS2's comparably?

Which ones would you recommend?

Thanks

Max Performance Summer Tires are not meant for snow or cold roads and will not perform well at all.


I only have experience with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Positions, and I can tell you they have a stiff sidewall.

I know they are not as good in the cold, but lets just say these are my only 2options. I dont want to get into a whole tire swapping issue or any other brands for the time being.

Which one is better? Which one would you pick if you just had to choose between the 2 and you lived in a Northeast climate?

Well, I'll tell you this..

One day in spring when it started getting warmer, I decided I'd take the Z out of storage. My driveway still had about 2 inches of snow.

Two feet out of my garage, I got stuck and the rear wheels just dug me deeper.

I've ran both on a different vehicles. First of all, which potenzas are you referring to? The RE050A Pole positions are a step above the stock RE050As.

In comparing the RE050A PPs vs the PS2s, I don't believe that for regular driving or even aggressive backroads driving will you be able to distinguish the two. I'd purchase the cheaper tire, which most likely isn't the PS2s.

I have not run either in the snow, but for your needs would recommend a dedicated snow tire over all-seasons.

Tirerack has more in depth testing if you're interested.

Thanks

I am referring to the stock potenza's that come with the Nismo compared with the Michellins PS2 that come on the New M3

I have driven the new M3 and I found it to be incredible, but since the entire car is different I couldn't tell if the tires were gripping better than my nismo or just because the chassis, dampening and what not are just that much better on the M3.

I'll probably be taking the train in the winter, but if its 30 degrees out with no snow on the ground I'll probably drive my car. I had my car over last winter, so I know what you mean about any snow with the stock tires = your stuck.

But like I said I'm not concerned about the snow, just which tire is better out of the 2?

Here are some criteria (comparing Stock Nismo Potenza's Vs Mich PS 2's) :

Grip at 70 + degrees = ?
Grip at 30 degrees =?
Grip in between 40 -70 degrees =?
Mileage (how long do they last) F/R =?
Look (does one look better than the other on the Z) =?
Hydroplaning (Is one more suceptable than the other) =?

Thanks

I checked out tirerack. The only specification difference I noticed is that the Bridgestones are a heavier tire. I looked at 245 & 275 sizes. I agree with Sensi09, if the average person can't tell a handling difference get the cheaper tire.

I had stock Potenzas RE040. When it was time to change them I upgraded to Potenza RE050A PP's- they are great! I corner hard and they haven't broke loose. However, they are Max. summer tires -In weather below 40 degrees you will not have grip - the rubber compound gets hard and the tire surface slides across the road (that is until you drive around and warm them up). On cold days, I drive my alternate vehicle (I learned the hard way when I first got my Z & attempted to drive it the winter).
I would recommend get a dedicated snow tire and in summer time swap.

You guys need to come knock some sense into the guys that hate on the RE050A's on G35driver...

Have you considered the Bridgestone Potenza RE01-R? Stickier than the RE050APP, and higher treadwear rating. They don't do as well in rain however, and at freezing temperatures, they cannot be driven on at all.

RE050A's are actually a good tire.. WAY better than RE040As

Yeah, but the G guys complain about the roaring when they get low, and the fact that they can't control their lead feet, so they wear out in 15k miles.

i got 16k out of mine when i switched them out, and they still had good tread left. I'd say 50%-60%.

If I had another car to drive around I would probablyly go with the RE01-Rs, but my knuckles turn white when I see a drip of rain even on the stock RE050A's.

FYI : Fun Fact I found out today when I got my oil changed at the dealer.

They quoted me the lowest price for Potenza's out of anywhere else I have seen.

I think it was like $280 for the rear tires. (a piece but still pretty low)

I still assume they will nail me for mounting and balancing and the rest, but does this seem strange to anyone?

Has anyone got their tires straight from the dealer? If so what did it cost you? (assuming you got the same stock Nismo/GT tire specs)

I run RE01-R tires on my Nismo they give good wet performance and in Memphis we don't get much ice or snow.They do not grip as well in sub freezing weather until you can build up a little heat in the tires.I've got about 15,000 street miles and about ten autocrosses on the tires and they still have good tread depth.The RE01Rs will out handle the PS2s or REO50APPs by a considerable margin,they are not as sticky as a Hooser or Khumo R compound tire but should give 25,000+ street miles.I run 265/30-18s front and 275/30-19s rear on the stock Nismo wheels.When the weather gets nasty,I'll get the wife Audi Allroad out.

25k miles? Jeebus, I can barely keep em for 12k....

Mounting and balancing is 20 dollars per tire at our dealer.

Do you know what the price per tire is going through your dealership? Including mounting and balance?