Michelin Tyres
Discussion
I removed near new Pzero "PZ4" J spec from my SVR as on all my cars which alarmingly came fitted with Pzero form factory all had unpredictable handling and in the RWD 911 and Mustang made them almost frightening.
In an AWD having a lesser grip tyre is not end of the world as the AWD will always do a good job at collecting up the mess.
On the F Type as all my other cars I was lacking confidence on the Pzero "PZ4" in cold wet conditions, the car when it let go was quite sudden and abrupt, of course the AWD always put it right or the TC would cut in and straighten the car quite violently. As such I always kept the TC on which as people will know in the cold and wet if you punch it hard in 2nd or 3rd in a straight line at higher RPM can interrupt power delivery by a millisecond due to TC activating briefly, even though in a straight line there was no need but the car was detecting some very minimal slip.
Also on a test roundabout, very large so room for a spin if you really mess up my SVR in the wet could enter at 38mph, at this point turn in would be met by very mild understeer if you turned in too aggressive and on exit quite abrupt over steer unless you really eased gently into the power.
Now I am on PS4S, even on day 1 with release agent still within tyres, the car just felt so much more planted and confident inspiring. Now a couple of days later and over 100 miles the release agent will of course nearly be gone.
My confidence levels are so much high I've now even started to drive the car in the wet with the DSC in the track mode setting as now even though grip levels are higher, resulting in higher corner speeds when the grip does run out the slide is more progressive and because the car is in track mode the car no longer abruptly intervenes violently, now a slide is progressive and the car does as instructed or it naturally straightens by itself depending on steering angle and throttle input.
On the same roundabout, I am yet to find the new limits, but now a 40mph entry, an aggressive turn in is met with a very direct front-end with no understeer whatsoever and the exit I can get to 75-100% throttle application with a very small slide angle without TC intervening resulting in the car just absoluteley catapulting from a roundabout in great style but still feeling very RWD which I love about the SVR, it has that RWD balance, but security of AWD to pull you out a corner when it gets a bit ragged when in the track DSC setting.
Remember my Pzero PZ4 version are only 6 months old, 7mm front and 6mm rear so they are like new, so this difference cannot be put down to replacing near worn with brand new tyres.
In short irrelevant of what magazine or video test say I simply find Pzero lacking in confidence and absolute grip levels.
I've now had Pzero on an E46 M3, 911 C2S (997.1), Ford S550 Mustang V8 and now the SVR. On every car they had an unpredictable nature in wet conditions, in the dry they were always fine, though a bit soft feeling when hot.
On all the above cars I either went to Michelin PS2, MPSS, cups or PS4S and on every single car the difference was dramatic, particular on the 911 and Mustang which can get really out of shape if you lose them in the wet, the 911 due to being rear engine and the Mustang because the S550 chassis is not the best and I am not a pro driver so I need a very well balanced and predictable car.
In short Michelin>Pirelli !!
My only conclusion is Pirelli must sell tyres very cheap to OEM's for them to be supplied on many high-end factory cars and as to why they win so many group test I am unsure as I am yet to have a good experience with Pirelli tyres.
In an AWD having a lesser grip tyre is not end of the world as the AWD will always do a good job at collecting up the mess.
On the F Type as all my other cars I was lacking confidence on the Pzero "PZ4" in cold wet conditions, the car when it let go was quite sudden and abrupt, of course the AWD always put it right or the TC would cut in and straighten the car quite violently. As such I always kept the TC on which as people will know in the cold and wet if you punch it hard in 2nd or 3rd in a straight line at higher RPM can interrupt power delivery by a millisecond due to TC activating briefly, even though in a straight line there was no need but the car was detecting some very minimal slip.
Also on a test roundabout, very large so room for a spin if you really mess up my SVR in the wet could enter at 38mph, at this point turn in would be met by very mild understeer if you turned in too aggressive and on exit quite abrupt over steer unless you really eased gently into the power.
Now I am on PS4S, even on day 1 with release agent still within tyres, the car just felt so much more planted and confident inspiring. Now a couple of days later and over 100 miles the release agent will of course nearly be gone.
My confidence levels are so much high I've now even started to drive the car in the wet with the DSC in the track mode setting as now even though grip levels are higher, resulting in higher corner speeds when the grip does run out the slide is more progressive and because the car is in track mode the car no longer abruptly intervenes violently, now a slide is progressive and the car does as instructed or it naturally straightens by itself depending on steering angle and throttle input.
On the same roundabout, I am yet to find the new limits, but now a 40mph entry, an aggressive turn in is met with a very direct front-end with no understeer whatsoever and the exit I can get to 75-100% throttle application with a very small slide angle without TC intervening resulting in the car just absoluteley catapulting from a roundabout in great style but still feeling very RWD which I love about the SVR, it has that RWD balance, but security of AWD to pull you out a corner when it gets a bit ragged when in the track DSC setting.
Remember my Pzero PZ4 version are only 6 months old, 7mm front and 6mm rear so they are like new, so this difference cannot be put down to replacing near worn with brand new tyres.
In short irrelevant of what magazine or video test say I simply find Pzero lacking in confidence and absolute grip levels.
I've now had Pzero on an E46 M3, 911 C2S (997.1), Ford S550 Mustang V8 and now the SVR. On every car they had an unpredictable nature in wet conditions, in the dry they were always fine, though a bit soft feeling when hot.
On all the above cars I either went to Michelin PS2, MPSS, cups or PS4S and on every single car the difference was dramatic, particular on the 911 and Mustang which can get really out of shape if you lose them in the wet, the 911 due to being rear engine and the Mustang because the S550 chassis is not the best and I am not a pro driver so I need a very well balanced and predictable car.
In short Michelin>Pirelli !!
My only conclusion is Pirelli must sell tyres very cheap to OEM's for them to be supplied on many high-end factory cars and as to why they win so many group test I am unsure as I am yet to have a good experience with Pirelli tyres.
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