Michelin Pilot 345 tire size?

Michelin Pilot 345 tire size?

Author
Discussion

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
quotequote all
Its getting time to get some new rear tyres, and I was wondering if any of you guys have tried, are using, or know of anybody using the 345 tyre size from Michelin? I believe it only comes in 345 35 ZR 18, which is fine for me, since I currently run 335 35 ZR 18's on the rear.

Any thoughts? What do does everybody think of the Pilot Sports? Any other recommendations...?

I noticed Tyrerack has 335 30 zr 18's going cheap a the moment...

-Gman

viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
quotequote all
Pilot sports are hard to beat, they were OE fit, I've had 2 sets and found them ok so far for all round espicially dry performance. I've tried Pzero's and thought they were rubbish. Never had 345's, there are plenty of 18" bargains around www.tirerack.com is worth looking at as well, (ask for Luke) I found Elite to be cheapest in the UK

N GTS

735 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th March 2003
quotequote all
The Michelins are made specificaly for the Viper. Piolet Sports are directional, and very good in the wet (so perfect for UK!).

Are you tracking the car much, they do a Club Sport just out (only in 18"s) very good, like a road legal slick.

As "Viper" said, Michelins are hard to beat there's some great deals to be had on 18"s of recent.

There are other sizes that fit, but they are made for other cars (Diablo, F50, F1) rear / mid engines cars require a different compound so may alter the handling of your snake if you fit these.

You can fit 345 to the rears. Personally I prefer 285+ up front, and 335 rear (actually gives a little more 'feel' as to what's going on with the handling).

I find it's cheaper to sometimes ship from USA, rather than buy UK...crazy, they're only made across channel in France!

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Friday 21st March 2003
quotequote all
Thanks for the info, I do track the car, and will be doing so here in the UK, along with my new toy (exige). The 345's are for the new lambo I think, but I will do a bit of digging with Michelin and find out if there is any difference in compound..

I currently also favour slightly wider tyres up front, currently running 295. I also run a very slight negative camber set up to reduce understeer a little, and this helps balance the snake out for me a bit more, and make a lot more neutral.

Your right, I can't believe the price difference between the US and UK, and its completely ridiculous, especially, as you say, they probably get made across the channel!

N GTS

735 posts

260 months

Friday 21st March 2003
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What brake system do you run? Please don't tell me it's OE if you're on track!

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Tuesday 25th March 2003
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Currently running a complete brembo 14" set up, had this installed in the US. Much better progressive bite and feel, all though still no where near as progressive as the Exige set up. I am keen to look at improving the brakes a bit more, if possible, and gain a few more horses...you can never have enough...

I'd be keen to meet up with all the UK viper owners sometime! especially now I am begining to get sorted after moving back from CA.


viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Tuesday 25th March 2003
quotequote all
www.ukviperclub.org/page23.html

first meet of the season 6th April

Viper_Larry

4,338 posts

263 months

Sunday 20th April 2003
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I got a quote for Michelin Pilot Sports from CostCo @ Lakeside yesterday:

335 x 35/17 - £309.60 inc. VAT & fitting
275 x 40/17 - £259.66 inc. VAT & fitting

Is this a good price?

N GTS

735 posts

260 months

Sunday 20th April 2003
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The UK prices for Pilot 17"s is anything from £1k - £1.2k inc VAT & fitting. (for 18"s much cheaper deals can be had, but I too run 17"s!)

Make sure they can handle your rim sizes, some big tire chain places can't cope with the 13" wide rear rim, and will catch and mark your rim edge, (I put duck-tape around the edges when I take them in)! Also make sure they're able to balance the 10" wide fronts.

viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2003
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I've just managed to get some OE Pilots 18" rears from Partsrack at $143 each

edited for some

>> Edited by viper on Tuesday 22 April 21:48

viper_larry

4,338 posts

263 months

Wednesday 13th August 2003
quotequote all
Speaking to my local tyre dealer today who is renowned for being extremely cheap, he quoted:

Michelin Pilot Sport 335/35 x 17 £278 inc. VAT & Fitted
Michelin Pilot Sport 275/40 x 17 £225 inc. VAT & Fitted

However, he did say that Michelin have dicontinued the 335/35 x 17 tyre and they only have 3 left in stock. Does anyone know if this is true? If they withdraw this tyre in the UK, will we have to get it from the US?

Don't need any just yet, but might need a couple of rears after the 'ring!

V1PER

6,630 posts

267 months

Wednesday 13th August 2003
quotequote all
Got mine today £289 www.blackcircles.com
There is a guy called steve that has a pair of mxxx3 for sale £450 possible drop to £400


>> Edited by V1PER on Wednesday 13th August 18:45

>> Edited by V1PER on Wednesday 13th August 18:51

Viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Wednesday 13th August 2003
quotequote all
hop over to the Ultima site, they run the same tyres
and might have a good UK contacts

te51cle

2,342 posts

255 months

Tuesday 26th August 2003
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Michelin have plenty of manufacturing sites all over the world, not just in France ! Greenville in South Carolina is their main centre in the US but they have others in the US and Canada. They even used to manufacture in Stoke-on-Trent if I remember correctly !

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Tuesday 26th August 2003
quotequote all
I've just purchased a set of rears 335x30xzr18's from partsrack. $330 a pair. Still cheaper to order from Jon, and ship 'em, rather than purchasing in the UK/France...crazy..

Jon asked me to mention that Michelin will be raising prices of tyres, including these on friday, by another $40 each.

You might want to get stocked up now.

I was tempted by the 345's, just to fill the tyre well a bit more,and for the extra 1" of rubber footprint, but they will raise the car by 0.8 of an inch. (diameter is 1.6" greater than the 335's). Don't fancy raising the CofG by that much, especially on the viper. Plus they are expensive still.

-Gman

Viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Tuesday 26th August 2003
quotequote all
I tucked away some 18" rears from Partsrack as well, a few months ago only £98 each at the time wish we had bargains like this in the UK

>> Edited by Viper on Tuesday 26th August 20:50

Joelism

640 posts

264 months

Tuesday 26th August 2003
quotequote all
Wouldn't a 345/30 18 have a profile height 3.3mm higher than a 335/30 18.

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Wednesday 27th August 2003
quotequote all
I don't believe Michelin do the 345's in a 30 profile for 18" rims. The profile is actually 35, hence the increase in diameter.

Apparently the 345's in 19" rim sizes are becoming popular with US Viper owners....

-Gman

ViperExige

Original Poster:

50 posts

260 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
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Just a thought on this subject, is anybody running Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres on their Snake? Apparently they do a 345 18 size....

N GTS

735 posts

260 months

Tuesday 9th September 2003
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The cups are awesome, if I had 18"rims I'd be running cups, you'll like them.