Saab 9-5 tyre choices.
Discussion
My 9-5 Aero Estate had Michelin tyres fitted when I bought it - 12 years ago now - and I have stuck with them as they seemed to work pretty well. The rears last until the sidewalls start to crack but the fronts give about 10k miles, probably because much of my use (low miles per annum these days) will be local runs and much maneouvering rather than M-way cruising.
Fortunately the required size of tyres seem to be getting cheaper - or at least they have been this decade.
I needed all 4 back in the summer and discovered the relatively new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 option which, for some reason, was less expensive in "Y" spec than in "W" spec - and less then I have paid at any previous change.
An acquaintance who is involved with driver training and tutoring at a couple of well known locations in Europe, confirmed that they were a good tyre in his experience, so I bought them.
He was right.
There's an utterly different feel to the car in all respects with no downsides at all. More grip, more agile, more comfortable and quieter. No idea about wear so far (nearly 4 months) but I doubt it will be detrimental.
It's like driving a different car. So much better in fact that I felt a need to share the information. I would not normally bother as tyre choices are usually so personal and differences between them so small. Not this time.
Highly recommended.
Fortunately the required size of tyres seem to be getting cheaper - or at least they have been this decade.
I needed all 4 back in the summer and discovered the relatively new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 option which, for some reason, was less expensive in "Y" spec than in "W" spec - and less then I have paid at any previous change.
An acquaintance who is involved with driver training and tutoring at a couple of well known locations in Europe, confirmed that they were a good tyre in his experience, so I bought them.
He was right.
There's an utterly different feel to the car in all respects with no downsides at all. More grip, more agile, more comfortable and quieter. No idea about wear so far (nearly 4 months) but I doubt it will be detrimental.
It's like driving a different car. So much better in fact that I felt a need to share the information. I would not normally bother as tyre choices are usually so personal and differences between them so small. Not this time.
Highly recommended.
I've just fitted Pilot Sport 4's all round on mine (9-3 v6 Aero)
Excellent tyres!!!! Dry grip is superb, I had Rainsport 3's fitted the last couple years which were decent enough (fantastic wet grip) but did spin on my usual test route when canning it
These PS4's are in another league, no wheel spin and for the first time I can really feel this Quaife working!!!
If put dry grip right up there with my old Kumho V70A track tyres....feels like a different car now. I'd 100% recommend these.
Excellent tyres!!!! Dry grip is superb, I had Rainsport 3's fitted the last couple years which were decent enough (fantastic wet grip) but did spin on my usual test route when canning it
These PS4's are in another league, no wheel spin and for the first time I can really feel this Quaife working!!! If put dry grip right up there with my old Kumho V70A track tyres....feels like a different car now. I'd 100% recommend these.
griffin dai said:
I've just fitted Pilot Sport 4's all round on mine (9-3 v6 Aero)
Excellent tyres!!!! Dry grip is superb, I had Rainsport 3's fitted the last couple years which were decent enough (fantastic wet grip) but did spin on my usual test route when canning it These PS4's are in another league, no wheel spin and for the first time I can really feel this Quaife working!!!
If put dry grip right up there with my old Kumho V70A track tyres....feels like a different car now. I'd 100% recommend these.
Not just me then!Excellent tyres!!!! Dry grip is superb, I had Rainsport 3's fitted the last couple years which were decent enough (fantastic wet grip) but did spin on my usual test route when canning it
These PS4's are in another league, no wheel spin and for the first time I can really feel this Quaife working!!! If put dry grip right up there with my old Kumho V70A track tyres....feels like a different car now. I'd 100% recommend these.
Pleased to know - I thought I was going mad for a while the difference seemed so great.
I have run mine on Goodyear F1 Asymmetric-2s until the last year and it always felt good on these - great tyres, wet or dry, good wear(30k+), very good rolling resistance...but you have to accept walking when it snows.
I had to change all 4 last November(ouch!) so went for Michelin CrossClimates as they were now available at 94XL and correct speed rating. They have been on ever since and I have no complaints, they seem to have all equal characteristics to the previous tyres and shift a massive amount of spray - they are a little less sharp responding than the Goodyears and my MPG dropped a couple but felt so much better on cold mornings! It was typical that we had no snow last winter but they have worn well, still at 6mm all round so I'm ready for this winter...
I had to change all 4 last November(ouch!) so went for Michelin CrossClimates as they were now available at 94XL and correct speed rating. They have been on ever since and I have no complaints, they seem to have all equal characteristics to the previous tyres and shift a massive amount of spray - they are a little less sharp responding than the Goodyears and my MPG dropped a couple but felt so much better on cold mornings! It was typical that we had no snow last winter but they have worn well, still at 6mm all round so I'm ready for this winter...
Over the last 10 years of 9-5 ownership we've tried a few different tyres. The best of the bunch seem to be Uniroyal Rainsport 3's so far.
Others:
GT radials v-pattern - good but can be hard to find
Continental premium contact - Awful, poor grip and wore out in <6000 miles
Avon ZV7 - OK in the dry but somewhat scary in the wet
Vredstein Sporttrac - Good grip but wore out very quickly
Assorted Chinese ditch-finders as fitted by previous owners - don't even go there!
Others:
GT radials v-pattern - good but can be hard to find
Continental premium contact - Awful, poor grip and wore out in <6000 miles
Avon ZV7 - OK in the dry but somewhat scary in the wet
Vredstein Sporttrac - Good grip but wore out very quickly
Assorted Chinese ditch-finders as fitted by previous owners - don't even go there!
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