PS4S in 18" sizes: alternatives
Discussion
Hi all, this is my first post after years and years of lurking. Apologies in advance for starting with a topic that has been debated ad nauseam.
I searched and read some previous posts but... tyres.
Turns out my car has "odd" wheel measurements.
It currently sits on 4 Michelin Pilot Super Sport OEM tyres that treated me well, including crossing Europe last winter (driving gently when crossing the Mt. Blanc in January
). Tyres were on the car when new. They are now near the end (almost 1mm to the legal limit/notch) so I started looking at replacements and the idea was to go for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (PS4S). I'd like the better grip on wet.
My sizes are 255/40 R18 at front and 275/40 R18 at the rear and... looks like the PS4S do not exist in those sizes (they do come in /35, but I'm not dealing with all that).
Even other comparable tyres from other vendors are not really sold in those sizes. WTF.
I am now considering replacing them with the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (PS4). I know and understand the difference between the S and non S.
I would do probably a trackday maybe per year (I'm nowhere fast on 4 wheels), I do a few trips to Europe generally, including going up and down the alps.
Despite being less performance focussed, the PS4 should still be more than enough, but I was looking for the general knowledge here to know if it is possible to source PS4S in those sizes (maybe from abroad) or if there are other solutions (apart from upgrading to 19" wheels for the moment).
Thanks in advance.
I searched and read some previous posts but... tyres.
Turns out my car has "odd" wheel measurements.
It currently sits on 4 Michelin Pilot Super Sport OEM tyres that treated me well, including crossing Europe last winter (driving gently when crossing the Mt. Blanc in January
). Tyres were on the car when new. They are now near the end (almost 1mm to the legal limit/notch) so I started looking at replacements and the idea was to go for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (PS4S). I'd like the better grip on wet.My sizes are 255/40 R18 at front and 275/40 R18 at the rear and... looks like the PS4S do not exist in those sizes (they do come in /35, but I'm not dealing with all that).
Even other comparable tyres from other vendors are not really sold in those sizes. WTF.
I am now considering replacing them with the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (PS4). I know and understand the difference between the S and non S.
I would do probably a trackday maybe per year (I'm nowhere fast on 4 wheels), I do a few trips to Europe generally, including going up and down the alps.
Despite being less performance focussed, the PS4 should still be more than enough, but I was looking for the general knowledge here to know if it is possible to source PS4S in those sizes (maybe from abroad) or if there are other solutions (apart from upgrading to 19" wheels for the moment).
Thanks in advance.
Edited by er-minio on Monday 9th September 23:18
Edited by er-minio on Monday 9th September 23:19
Yes, the PS5 are available too in that size.
Reading around (and it might be hearsay) I was under the impression that the PS4 are rated better than the PS5? The PS5 seems to be even less 'sporty'/grippy than the 4, but more comfort focussed?
What convinced me on the PS4 was the Tyre Reviews video on PS4 Vs PS4S Vs Cup2.
I wouldn't stress too much about the trackday, or two, a year as I really take it easy on track with cars (I'm slightly more experienced on two wheels) so the tyre choice wouldn't be a massive issue in there.
BTW, with the current PSS I've done 18k miles this year and probably will reach 19, maaaaybe almost 20k before replacing. Any mileage similar or above this, I'm happy.
Reading around (and it might be hearsay) I was under the impression that the PS4 are rated better than the PS5? The PS5 seems to be even less 'sporty'/grippy than the 4, but more comfort focussed?
What convinced me on the PS4 was the Tyre Reviews video on PS4 Vs PS4S Vs Cup2.
I wouldn't stress too much about the trackday, or two, a year as I really take it easy on track with cars (I'm slightly more experienced on two wheels) so the tyre choice wouldn't be a massive issue in there.
BTW, with the current PSS I've done 18k miles this year and probably will reach 19, maaaaybe almost 20k before replacing. Any mileage similar or above this, I'm happy.
Edited by er-minio on Monday 9th September 23:46
I wouldn't say ps4 are better than Ps5. It's difficult to get through reviews of both from forums as so many people don't realise that ps4 and PS4s re different tyres.
Realistically, you probably wouldn't notice a difference driving between ps4 and Ps5, but we Ps5 will wear better.
PS4s are a bit harder, so sharper response and grip better in the dry, but they suffer in poor conditions compared to the 5.
Realistically, you probably wouldn't notice a difference driving between ps4 and Ps5, but we Ps5 will wear better.
PS4s are a bit harder, so sharper response and grip better in the dry, but they suffer in poor conditions compared to the 5.
Joe M said:
It's difficult to get through reviews of both from forums as so many people don't realise that ps4 and PS4s re different tyres.
YES. Oh my god it is so annoying Joe M said:
PS4s are a bit harder, so sharper response and grip better in the dry, but they suffer in poor conditions compared to the 5.
Thanks! This is really useful.With the occasional Mont Blanc crossing... I wouldn't go anywhere near PS4s
In the snow I literally sat in my 335d on the driveway, slight slope, took foot off the brake and back on. The car slid straight out into the road, the steering done nothing, felt like it was disconnected.
I took the M3 on the PS5 that day.
In the snow I literally sat in my 335d on the driveway, slight slope, took foot off the brake and back on. The car slid straight out into the road, the steering done nothing, felt like it was disconnected.
I took the M3 on the PS5 that day.
Joe M said:
In the snow I literally sat in my 335d on the driveway, slight slope, took foot off the brake and back on. The car slid straight out into the road, the steering done nothing, felt like it was disconnected.
That would be because all 4 wheels were locked up instantly when you braked again.Joe M said:
With the occasional Mont Blanc crossing... I wouldn't go anywhere near PS4s
In the snow I literally sat in my 335d on the driveway, slight slope, took foot off the brake and back on. The car slid straight out into the road, the steering done nothing, felt like it was disconnected.
I took the M3 on the PS5 that day.
Agreed, don't some European countries require winter-rated (snowflake marked) tyres for some months of the year anyway?In the snow I literally sat in my 335d on the driveway, slight slope, took foot off the brake and back on. The car slid straight out into the road, the steering done nothing, felt like it was disconnected.
I took the M3 on the PS5 that day.
Yes they do. But apart from Germany that requires the tyres, for other countries you are ok with chains or (approved) snow socks in the boot.
When I crossed last winter (on PSS) it was an emergency – I do have snow socks for that car.
The road was clear, the only snow I saw on the asphalt was in a service area that, weirdly, wasn't cleaned.
I do that route almost every winter. The only time I experienced snow on the motorway was in 2009 when there was the big freeze across all Europe. That wasn't fun (other car, other times...). Otherwise the road is clear, so the issue is temperature mostly, where the winter tyres help a lot.
To be fair, once crossed into Italy it was 18/20 degress all the way.
I think PS4/5 might be a decent choice for now (also there should be less winter travel this year).
I'm looking at having two sets of rims in order to have summer/winter tyres to swap easily, but might have to wait a few months still before pulling the trigger on that.
When I crossed last winter (on PSS) it was an emergency – I do have snow socks for that car.
The road was clear, the only snow I saw on the asphalt was in a service area that, weirdly, wasn't cleaned.
I do that route almost every winter. The only time I experienced snow on the motorway was in 2009 when there was the big freeze across all Europe. That wasn't fun (other car, other times...). Otherwise the road is clear, so the issue is temperature mostly, where the winter tyres help a lot.
To be fair, once crossed into Italy it was 18/20 degress all the way.
I think PS4/5 might be a decent choice for now (also there should be less winter travel this year).
I'm looking at having two sets of rims in order to have summer/winter tyres to swap easily, but might have to wait a few months still before pulling the trigger on that.
Edited by er-minio on Wednesday 11th September 09:29
er-minio said:
Yes they do. But apart from Germany that requires the tyres, for other countries you are ok with chains or (approved) snow socks in the boot.
When I crossed last winter (on PSS) it was an emergency – I do have snow socks for that car.
The road was clear, the only snow I saw on the asphalt was in a service area that, weirdly, wasn't cleaned.
I do that route almost every winter. The only time I experienced snow on the motorway was in 2009 when there was the big freeze across all Europe. That wasn't fun (other car, other times...). Otherwise the road is clear, so the issue is temperature mostly, where the winter tyres help a lot.
To be fair, once crossed into Italy it was 18/20 degress all the way.
I think PS4/5 might be a decent choice for now (also there should be less winter travel this year).
I'm looking at having two sets of rims in order to have summer/winter tyres to swap easily, but might have to wait a few months still before pulling the trigger on that.
Thanks for that. Why not go for a decent 4-season tyre, like Michelin or Goodyear?When I crossed last winter (on PSS) it was an emergency – I do have snow socks for that car.
The road was clear, the only snow I saw on the asphalt was in a service area that, weirdly, wasn't cleaned.
I do that route almost every winter. The only time I experienced snow on the motorway was in 2009 when there was the big freeze across all Europe. That wasn't fun (other car, other times...). Otherwise the road is clear, so the issue is temperature mostly, where the winter tyres help a lot.
To be fair, once crossed into Italy it was 18/20 degress all the way.
I think PS4/5 might be a decent choice for now (also there should be less winter travel this year).
I'm looking at having two sets of rims in order to have summer/winter tyres to swap easily, but might have to wait a few months still before pulling the trigger on that.
Edited by er-minio on Wednesday 11th September 09:29
Resurrecting this thread, just to add the "solution" met.
Changed tyres last week, in Europe, before driving back to the UK.
I went, after suggestions from the tyre place, with Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Actually very happy with those. Very stiff/responsive tyres, great grip (was about 16 degrees C where I was), seems actually slighly faster steering response than the PSS.
Considering that these are summer tyres as well, grip in the wet and cold/wet is incredibly better than the PSS both when new and near end of life (almost at the tab when replaced).
Fairly happy with the solution.
I know they will last a bit less than the Michelins, but hey.
Changed tyres last week, in Europe, before driving back to the UK.
I went, after suggestions from the tyre place, with Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Actually very happy with those. Very stiff/responsive tyres, great grip (was about 16 degrees C where I was), seems actually slighly faster steering response than the PSS.
Considering that these are summer tyres as well, grip in the wet and cold/wet is incredibly better than the PSS both when new and near end of life (almost at the tab when replaced).
Fairly happy with the solution.
I know they will last a bit less than the Michelins, but hey.
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