My Nitto 555's seem to be just too loud and if that wasn't enough one has a slow leak that won't go away after being plugged. So..... they're out of here.

After reading a lot in this forum I got it down to either the Goodyear F1 GSD3 or Michelin Pilot Sport PS2. From Tire Rack:

Front 245/40/18
Rear 275/40/18

F1
F: $211
R: $288

PS2
F: $261
R: $301

The F1's are less expensive, advantage Goodyear.
The Michelins are French, advantage Goodyear (won't get into that here).

Somewhere I read that the F1's have a softer sidewall than the PS2's. Compared to the 555's will I notice that the car leans more in turns if I go with the F1's? Just street use.

TIA
Ken

 

Michelin spends more money on stronger materials and acoustic noise research than any other manufacturer. Goodyear wastes it on retired union labor and retired health benefits............Goodyear has many more retirees than current workers.

Chose where your priorities are?

 

Both are excellent tires with minor differences: https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....ighlight=tires.

 

I've used both, but they where on oem 17's so the side walls are larger than the size's you'll be running. I would say that they where pretty much the same, similar traction on the street and on the strip. I would go with the f1's based on the cost factor because performance was the same imo.

 

I've had both. The Michelins have a wider tread width and have a bit more grip in the dry. The Goodyears are good, the Michelins are better and I'd buy the PS2's again no questions asked.

 

PS2s are awesome. Get 'em, you won't be disappointed.






<--------- Handle great, wet or dry; quieter than Potenzas.

 

I have the Goodyears now and really like them (quiet, sticky, great on wet roadways, and comfortable). The only downside is the sidewalls feel soft. I suppose that is the reason they provide such a comfortable ride.

I think your Nittos have stiff sidewalls, so you might find that the Goodyears feel a little “wiggly.” I noticed this going from Bridgestones to the Goodyears. I suspect you will prefer the PS2s since they have all the advantages of the Goodyears, but have a slightly stiffer sidewall.

--Spike

 

what about bf's or falkens....

 

Get the BFG KDWs and save the rest of your money. The Goodyears are overpriced and overrated IMO.

 

Well since everyone else is hijacking with their .02 I shall do the same. Upgraded to RE050s for the rears and loving it.

 

My experience:


I had many tires on my e36 M3 and when I got to the PS2, I stopped trying other tires. Period.

I just got new rims and tires for my z and got the F1 GS-D3 in 255/35/19 and 275/35/19. (1000 miles on them so far)

I would have gotten PS2s on my new wheels, but since I bought expensive wheels and tires at the same time, I thought the $300 would be a nice savings. I was wrong. Plus, the guy at the tire rack said they were not worth $300 more. I should have went with my instinct and got PS2's.

The car feels really wishy-washy around corners compared to the RE050a that came on the car (07 GT). Now it really leans in the corners and does not inspire confidence. They do grip, but the car leans to the point that I feel like I need bigger sway-bars. Before the car felt very flat and stable in the corners and I could not imagine why people put on after-market sways.

The gs-d3 are also noisier than the OEM re050a's. F1's are awesome in the wet, but it hardly rains in CA bay area these days.

If my wife would not divorce me for it, I'd have the gs-d3 switched for PS2s and I'd sell the gs-d3 on the board.

On my wife's car, we got the re050a Pole Positions in 255/40/18 and 275/40/18. I think these pole positions are better than PS2's. Super-stiff sidewalls and super-sticky tread - wet or dry. They were my #1 choice, but they do not come in a 255/35/19 (WTF?)

my number 2 choice would have been the PS2, but I went with #3 to save $300 on the set.

The Pole Positions are a STEAL right now. Prices are cheaper because they are new and not proven. Believe me they are awesome and once they have been around for a while, expect prices to go up up up. (same happened with the ps2 in the beginning)

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either; both AWESOME tires.
For the performance PS2s are the best, and GS-D3s have both great dry and wet traction.

I just received my Michellins on my new set of wheels. I shall enjoy it.

 

Your choosing between the two best from my readings on here and reports from CR & Tirerack.

 

UPDATE:

After only a day with the Michellin Pilot Sport PS2s on my car, I'm COMPLETELY blown away by its performance.
REMEMBER my tires are not even close to being broken in(still slippery cuz they're brand new), and God I can't wait till I put about 300 miles on them!

To the OP:
I've also had Nitto 555s right before switching to PS2s. Now, how does this sound to you:

The PS2s, not broken in and still slippery add to that on cold weather(58degrees), STILL GRIPS BETTER than Nitto 555s in optimal traction on hot weather(90degrees plus)

I was driving home in heavy rain, and hell PS2s on rainy surface still grips better than Nitto 555s on dry surface!

There's very minimal tire roar if any; I was surprised at how quiet it was.

Go with the PS2s. You won't go back to any other tires.

 

^I had PS2s on another car, and I thought it took a quite a long time to break-in. Definitely a great tire, but I was a bit disappointed at first.

I think the Goodyear F1s are quality tires and for daily driving, you won't notice a difference. I was worried about a soft sidewall when I first got them, but it really wasn't that bad. Initial turn-in wasn't as crisp, but not sluggish in any way. Keep in mind that this can be countered somewhat by running a higher tire pressure. Oh and the tread design is heaps better than the PS2s.

 

If you want to see how good PS2s work in the rain, check out my pics on the first page of this thread...

https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-road/190069-autox-pics.html

 

I have the F1's in those sizes mounted on Nismo wheels but cannot comment about the PS2's. I had the same choice last summer over the F1's or PS2's and chose the F1's due to a few hundred in cost savings. Overall ive been happy with the Goodyears. I went from Advan Sports to these and saw much improved wet/dry/sidewall flex. Dry grip is good, i had them out on 2 1/2 hours of track time at mid ohio a few months ago... they held up as expected, just would get a little slick after the end of a half hour stint. Wet traction is really where they shine though, ive never driven on a tire this good in all types of wet conditions. I hear the PS2's may be superior in dry grip, so i may try these once the F1's wear out.

 

The vote seems to be leaning towards the PS2's.

I know one thing for sure.... The nittos (or any other performance tire I'd guess) DO NOT work well in the snow storm we had today. I was in RI and almost didn't make it back. Wound up sideways 4 times on the back roads at 5 mph. Had to turn off TCS to get up even the smallest hills.

 

Coming from BFGoodrich KD's, I found the sidewalls on the PS2's too soft for my driving style, especially at the track. They do grip extremely well. My next tires were Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07's, and they are possibly the best tire I've ever run - great grip, and the sidewalls feel much stiffer. They are damn expensive, but then again, so are the PS2's.

 

Hmm... I've never heard anybody say that the sidewalls on a PS2 were too soft - if anything they're pretty stiff. Maybe it has something to do with your choice of tire width versus the wheel width or the profile height.