The definitive Vantage tyre thread
Discussion
As there seems to be a general consensus that the OEM Bridgestones are a poor tyre (or just old tech) I thought I'd try and set up a thread to discuss what both V8 and V12 owners are using.
There are plenty of threads on this over the last couple of years but most seem to ask a lot of questions but haven't really been concluded so maybe we can get some actual experience here with people that have experience already.
I need to change my V8S tyres and have had always preferred Michelins (recently the PS4S) on other cars but I can't get the front 245/40/ZR19's in PS4S's which is a real pain. I believe they do a 245/35 and a 255/40, are either of those suitable? Are Conti 6's any good? There's not a lot of options on "40" profile tyres.
Any feedback on my questions would be helpful, also any owners with non OEM tyre choice can add the size and tyres they are running with any feedback may help other owners.
There are plenty of threads on this over the last couple of years but most seem to ask a lot of questions but haven't really been concluded so maybe we can get some actual experience here with people that have experience already.
I need to change my V8S tyres and have had always preferred Michelins (recently the PS4S) on other cars but I can't get the front 245/40/ZR19's in PS4S's which is a real pain. I believe they do a 245/35 and a 255/40, are either of those suitable? Are Conti 6's any good? There's not a lot of options on "40" profile tyres.
Any feedback on my questions would be helpful, also any owners with non OEM tyre choice can add the size and tyres they are running with any feedback may help other owners.
Michelin really needs to get on this - I know you guys have been asking for these since they were first released. The sizes are available, they just don't let you have them over there. And since these fit both the V8VS and the standard V8V, there's actually a large number of cars that would use them. I'd guess Michelin is only considering the V8VS in their projections and based on those numbers, there just isn't a business case for it.
As for tire info, here's some stuff I wrote up for 6speed:
The standard V12 tires are slightly shorter than the standard V8 tires. The V8VS tires (245/285 setup) is slightly taller than the standard V8 tires. So the difference between the V12 tires and the V8VS tires adds up.
Tire sidewall height is based on a percentage of the tire's tread width. That means the sidewall isn't a specific measurement (eg, 285mm tread width and 100mm sidewall height). Rather, it's a ratio. So, 285mm tread width and 35% of 285mm (99.75mm) sidewall height. The next taller tire, in this example, would be 285mm width with 40% aspect ratio, giving a 114mm sidewall height. The difference between those two tires, which don't have an in-between option for that width, is over an inch.
285/35R19 tire overall diameter: 26.7"
285/40R19 tire overall diameter: 27.8"
That's 1.1" taller overall by going up to the next aspect ratio.
Taking specs from Tire Rack for the OEM tires, here's the differences between various sizes:
235/40R19 overall diameter: 26.4" (OEM V8V, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
275/35R19 overall diameter: 26.5" (OEM V8V, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
245/40R19 overall diameter: 26.7" (OEM V8VS, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
285/35R19 overall diameter: 26.7" (OEM V8VS, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
255/35R19 overall diameter: 26.2" (OEM V12V, Pirelli P Zero)
295/30R19 overall diameter: 26.0" (OEM V12V, Pirelli P Zero)
265/35R19 overall diameter: 26.3" (Widepants fitment, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S)
305/30R19 overall diameter: 26.3" (Widepants fitment, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S)
Look at the differences between them and you can see a 0.5-0.7" difference in overall diameter between the shortest (V12V) and tallest (V8VS) tires. I included the tires I'm using on my grey Vantage as well, which are on Widepants-fitment BC Forged RZ05 wheels, 19x9.5" in front and 19x11" in rear. Previously I had V8VS-sized Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on it (now on my red Vantage), and someone did notice in a pic in another thread the visual difference in wheel gap due to the reduced sidewall going from the MPSS to the MPS4S tires in different sizes.
One of the things I do for my wheel customers is talk about tire sizes. I have two pre-set sizes available for wheels ("Redpants fitment" and "Widepants fitment") so you don't have to worry about figuring out tire sizes. But I also talk about the various tire options available for any given wheel size. You have to match your front tires to your rears, the new tire overall diameter to the original, match the tire type to your needs, and match the tires to your wheel sizes... it's all about going over as much info as someone needs to understand their wheel and tire decision. Here's some more info, too:
http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2017/8/...keeps-you-s...
One last thing: there are differences in actual sizes between two different tires, even if they have the same size on paper. This is due to tire manufacturing, construction, design, etc. The differences are slight, but they are there. So if you look at two tires of the same size from two manufacturers, you may see a 0.1" difference (maybe even more).
As for tire info, here's some stuff I wrote up for 6speed:
The standard V12 tires are slightly shorter than the standard V8 tires. The V8VS tires (245/285 setup) is slightly taller than the standard V8 tires. So the difference between the V12 tires and the V8VS tires adds up.
Tire sidewall height is based on a percentage of the tire's tread width. That means the sidewall isn't a specific measurement (eg, 285mm tread width and 100mm sidewall height). Rather, it's a ratio. So, 285mm tread width and 35% of 285mm (99.75mm) sidewall height. The next taller tire, in this example, would be 285mm width with 40% aspect ratio, giving a 114mm sidewall height. The difference between those two tires, which don't have an in-between option for that width, is over an inch.
285/35R19 tire overall diameter: 26.7"
285/40R19 tire overall diameter: 27.8"
That's 1.1" taller overall by going up to the next aspect ratio.
Taking specs from Tire Rack for the OEM tires, here's the differences between various sizes:
235/40R19 overall diameter: 26.4" (OEM V8V, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
275/35R19 overall diameter: 26.5" (OEM V8V, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
245/40R19 overall diameter: 26.7" (OEM V8VS, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
285/35R19 overall diameter: 26.7" (OEM V8VS, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A)
255/35R19 overall diameter: 26.2" (OEM V12V, Pirelli P Zero)
295/30R19 overall diameter: 26.0" (OEM V12V, Pirelli P Zero)
265/35R19 overall diameter: 26.3" (Widepants fitment, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S)
305/30R19 overall diameter: 26.3" (Widepants fitment, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S)
Look at the differences between them and you can see a 0.5-0.7" difference in overall diameter between the shortest (V12V) and tallest (V8VS) tires. I included the tires I'm using on my grey Vantage as well, which are on Widepants-fitment BC Forged RZ05 wheels, 19x9.5" in front and 19x11" in rear. Previously I had V8VS-sized Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on it (now on my red Vantage), and someone did notice in a pic in another thread the visual difference in wheel gap due to the reduced sidewall going from the MPSS to the MPS4S tires in different sizes.
One of the things I do for my wheel customers is talk about tire sizes. I have two pre-set sizes available for wheels ("Redpants fitment" and "Widepants fitment") so you don't have to worry about figuring out tire sizes. But I also talk about the various tire options available for any given wheel size. You have to match your front tires to your rears, the new tire overall diameter to the original, match the tire type to your needs, and match the tires to your wheel sizes... it's all about going over as much info as someone needs to understand their wheel and tire decision. Here's some more info, too:
http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2017/8/...keeps-you-s...
One last thing: there are differences in actual sizes between two different tires, even if they have the same size on paper. This is due to tire manufacturing, construction, design, etc. The differences are slight, but they are there. So if you look at two tires of the same size from two manufacturers, you may see a 0.1" difference (maybe even more).
Edited by telum01 on Wednesday 14th March 11:21
That's great info, thanks.
I would presume that you've got a few models over in the US that use the 245/40's that we don't get here hence the business case to sell in the US and not UK.
It seems that the likes of Michelin are regularly updating tyres but the OEM Bridgestones seem to have been around forever and are still a current "model". Does anyone know if Bridgestone are just producing the same tyre or are they improving it but not releasing it as a new model name?
I would presume that you've got a few models over in the US that use the 245/40's that we don't get here hence the business case to sell in the US and not UK.
It seems that the likes of Michelin are regularly updating tyres but the OEM Bridgestones seem to have been around forever and are still a current "model". Does anyone know if Bridgestone are just producing the same tyre or are they improving it but not releasing it as a new model name?
Are you daily driving, including in the rain?
My V12VS is used as a weekend/day off car. I replaced the OEM PZero Corsas with Michelin PS Cup 2's. They are a great dry road tire, can be used on track without need to swap out, and if driven sensibly, will function in the rain just fine.
If yours is going to see a lot of rain, then PS4's or Conti 6's would be better.
My V12VS is used as a weekend/day off car. I replaced the OEM PZero Corsas with Michelin PS Cup 2's. They are a great dry road tire, can be used on track without need to swap out, and if driven sensibly, will function in the rain just fine.
If yours is going to see a lot of rain, then PS4's or Conti 6's would be better.
quench said:
Are you daily driving, including in the rain?
My V12VS is used as a weekend/day off car. I replaced the OEM PZero Corsas with Michelin PS Cup 2's. They are a great dry road tire, can be used on track without need to swap out, and if driven sensibly, will function in the rain just fine.
If yours is going to see a lot of rain, then PS4's or Conti 6's would be better.
The car is fine weather only but can't see Cup 2's in the right size either. I've had Cup 2's on other cars and happy with them in the rain anyway, anything other than a deluge I found them OK also.My V12VS is used as a weekend/day off car. I replaced the OEM PZero Corsas with Michelin PS Cup 2's. They are a great dry road tire, can be used on track without need to swap out, and if driven sensibly, will function in the rain just fine.
If yours is going to see a lot of rain, then PS4's or Conti 6's would be better.
Jon39 said:
If the OEM size front tyres are available in the USA, are there any other countries, perhaps European, where Michelin have them on sale?
Big E 118 said:
Jon39 said:
If the OEM size front tyres are available in the USA, are there any other countries, perhaps European, where Michelin have them on sale?
I expect many of us buy online products, which are sent directly to us from the far east, and the carriage charges are either 'peanuts' or nil.
Would it be possible to buy two tyres from the USA, without paying an unreasonable amount in total ?
I did some digging, made a few phone calls, and the answer to all the above is yes, you can get the 245/40R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires over there.
They do have the EC codes, and I do have the actual codes, so you can pass MOT.
Throwing this out there in case there's any interest...
I can arrange a shipment over - I'd need ten *pairs* of tires minimum. They'd be somewhere around 300 pounds per tire, plus shipping from my delivery point in the UK to wherever you are. It's a decent chunk of money but totally doable if you guys want them. Shipping a bunch of tires across the Atlantic isn't cheap :/
They do have the EC codes, and I do have the actual codes, so you can pass MOT.
Throwing this out there in case there's any interest...
I can arrange a shipment over - I'd need ten *pairs* of tires minimum. They'd be somewhere around 300 pounds per tire, plus shipping from my delivery point in the UK to wherever you are. It's a decent chunk of money but totally doable if you guys want them. Shipping a bunch of tires across the Atlantic isn't cheap :/
telum01 said:
Michelin really needs to get on this - I know you guys have been asking for these since they were first released. The sizes are available, they just don't let you have them over there. And since these fit both the V8VS and the standard V8V, there's actually a large number of cars that would use them. I'd guess Michelin is only considering the V8VS in their projections and based on those numbers, there just isn't a business case for it.
So if V8V from MY12.25 on are same OEM tyres/tires as V8S there's even more of a case?
rovcallum said:
See below chart of available PS4S tyres in UK and their dimensions. Does this help?
I just knocked it up with info from the Michelin UK website and a bit of Excel.
Yes, that confirms for V8VS they have the rear but not the front sizes for PS4s's.I just knocked it up with info from the Michelin UK website and a bit of Excel.
So has everyone with standard fitment V8VS wheels still got Bridgestones on?
This is indeed a problem for the Vantage V8 owners.
In 2017 Michelin had commented that those tyres available in the US would not conform to EU legislation. But hopefully they change that.
In the German April 2018 "Sport Auto" they tested tyres (BMW M2 in 245/35 and 265/35) and ranked them 1st: PS4S, 2nd: Conti SportContact 6, 3rd Hankook Ventus S1 evo2. No Pirelli sports tyre available in this sizes. Both the Conti and the Hankook are available in the sizes for the Vantage V8S. And they perform much better than the outdated Bridgestone RE50.
They also tested track day tyres. The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R outperforms the Michelin Cup 2 in the dry, and the magazine recommends to use them (all track day tyres) only in dry conditions since they perform highly nervous and unpredictable in wet conditions.
In 2017 Michelin had commented that those tyres available in the US would not conform to EU legislation. But hopefully they change that.
In the German April 2018 "Sport Auto" they tested tyres (BMW M2 in 245/35 and 265/35) and ranked them 1st: PS4S, 2nd: Conti SportContact 6, 3rd Hankook Ventus S1 evo2. No Pirelli sports tyre available in this sizes. Both the Conti and the Hankook are available in the sizes for the Vantage V8S. And they perform much better than the outdated Bridgestone RE50.
They also tested track day tyres. The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R outperforms the Michelin Cup 2 in the dry, and the magazine recommends to use them (all track day tyres) only in dry conditions since they perform highly nervous and unpredictable in wet conditions.
Nbgring said:
1st: PS4S, 2nd: Conti SportContact 6, 3rd Hankook Ventus S1 evo2. No Pirelli sports tyre available in this sizes. Both the Conti and the Hankook are available in the sizes for the Vantage V8S. And they perform much better than the outdated Bridgestone RE50.
I'm thinking about going for the Conti 6's. The only downside I've read about is high wear rates but I don't do massive mileage or track the V8S so that's not really an issue.I'm currently running Cup 2s on my V12VS in OEM sizes (day and night performance change vs standard pzero).
I was wondering if anyone is running a 305/30/19 rear on their V12VS. Michelin discontinued 295/30/19 for Cup 2s and I was able to get one of the last sets in the US but now I am worried once I've run through these tires....
I was wondering if anyone is running a 305/30/19 rear on their V12VS. Michelin discontinued 295/30/19 for Cup 2s and I was able to get one of the last sets in the US but now I am worried once I've run through these tires....
telum01 said:
I did some digging, made a few phone calls, and the answer to all the above is yes, you can get the 245/40R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires over there.
They do have the EC codes, and I do have the actual codes, so you can pass MOT.
Throwing this out there in case there's any interest...
I can arrange a shipment over - I'd need ten *pairs* of tires minimum. They'd be somewhere around 300 pounds per tire, plus shipping from my delivery point in the UK to wherever you are. It's a decent chunk of money but totally doable if you guys want them. Shipping a bunch of tires across the Atlantic isn't cheap :/
I'll definitely have a pair of fronts (PS4S - 245/40x19) if you go ahead with this. Thanks for taking the trouble to research it for us.They do have the EC codes, and I do have the actual codes, so you can pass MOT.
Throwing this out there in case there's any interest...
I can arrange a shipment over - I'd need ten *pairs* of tires minimum. They'd be somewhere around 300 pounds per tire, plus shipping from my delivery point in the UK to wherever you are. It's a decent chunk of money but totally doable if you guys want them. Shipping a bunch of tires across the Atlantic isn't cheap :/
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